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The differences between computer aided design designers and mechanical design drafters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a computer aided design designer and a mechanical design drafter. Additionally, a computer aided design designer has an average salary of $60,150, which is higher than the $58,371 average annual salary of a mechanical design drafter.
The top three skills for a computer aided design designer include auto cad, revit and aided design. The most important skills for a mechanical design drafter are design layouts, creo, and assembly drawings.
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Mechanical Design Drafter | |
| Yearly salary | $60,150 | $58,371 |
| Hourly rate | $28.92 | $28.06 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 92,503 | 54,189 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A computer-aided design (CAD) designer is responsible for creating plan outlines and project designs for a specific business need. A CAD designer utilizes various technologies and software applications to generate graphic illustrations. CAD designers must have strong knowledge of the technology designs, software management, engineering standards, and the construction industry fundamentals. CAD designers label their works with appropriate dimensions and specifications, performing necessary adjustments to meet the clients' needs. A CAD designer requires excellent critical-thinking and analytical skills to manage design structures and creative solutions.
Mechanical design drafter develops detailed mechanical equipment designs and specifications needed for assembly and modifies them to repair defects and to minimize problems in the production. He/she often works with architects and engineers either in an office or via job sites with hands-on experience in computer-aided design (CAD) software and building processes, visual aptitude, and mathematical skills. However, the demand for drafters tempered as CAD and building information modeling (BIM) technologies allows architects and engineers to perform tasks that are usually done by a mechanical design drafter.
Computer aided design designers and mechanical design drafters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Mechanical Design Drafter | |
| Average salary | $60,150 | $58,371 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $89,000 | Between $45,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Fremont, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Salt River Project |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a computer aided design designer and a mechanical design drafter in terms of educational background:
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Mechanical Design Drafter | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Associate Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | LeTourneau University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between computer aided design designers' and mechanical design drafters' demographics:
| Computer Aided Design Designer | Mechanical Design Drafter | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 73.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |