How to hire a computer aided design designer

How to hire a computer aided design designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step computer aided design designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a computer aided design designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new computer aided design designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a computer aided design designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a computer aided design designer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A computer aided design designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, computer aided design designers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of computer aided design designers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Computer Aided Design Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Computer Aided Design Designer	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$19-42
   Draftsman	Draftsmen are professionals with expertise in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) drawings. They perform similar tasks as architects, such as preparing CADD drawings... Show more	$14-28
   Drafter	The duties of a drafter vary on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the information technology setting, a drafter specializes in creating a three-dimensional model for software and other applications upon gathering details and specifications from designers and other personnel... Show more	$15-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Auto CAD
   • Revit
   • Aided Design
   • Construction Drawings
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Design Drawings
   • BIM
   • Sketch
   • Mechanical Design
   • Assembly Drawings
   • Product Development
   • GIS
   • GD
   • CNC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage the ECN process by assigning the highest priority requests through coordination between engineering staff and drafting personnel.
   • Manage and supervise other draftsmen.
   • Develop a product design to solve the problem of height adjustment of a chair using PTC CreO Direct/Elements & parametric.
   • Used primiarly pro-e with some autocad.
   • Work with both Intralink and Windchill.
   • Create blueprints/drawings of unique grille designs for glass windows using computer program

   More computer aided design designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your computer aided design designer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A computer aided design designer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, computer aided design designers' average salary in georgia is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level computer aided design designers 55% less than senior-level computer aided design designers.
   • Certifications. A computer aided design designer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a computer aided design designer's salary.

   Average computer aided design designer salary

   $60,150yearly

   $28.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level computer aided design designer salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average computer aided design designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$88,182	$42
   2	Washington	$72,272	$35
   3	Ohio	$68,369	$33
   4	New York	$66,466	$32
   5	Massachusetts	$66,244	$32
   6	Michigan	$65,444	$31
   7	Oregon	$63,698	$31
   8	Minnesota	$62,523	$30
   9	Arizona	$62,128	$30
   10	New Jersey	$61,310	$29
   11	Pennsylvania	$61,012	$29
   12	Illinois	$60,259	$29
   13	Iowa	$58,091	$28
   14	North Carolina	$57,640	$28
   15	Maryland	$57,318	$28
   16	Colorado	$55,932	$27
   17	New Mexico	$55,617	$27
   18	Missouri	$54,212	$26
   19	Indiana	$54,133	$26
   20	Kansas	$53,885	$26

   Average computer aided design designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$133,426	$64.15	814
   2	Levi Strauss & Co.	$115,367	$55.46	7
   3	Lands' End	$110,327	$53.04	5
   4	Cirrus Aircraft	$107,606	$51.73	7
   5	Stryker	$102,488	$49.27	45
   6	American Eagle Outfitters	$102,392	$49.23	8
   7	Gap Inc.	$101,740	$48.91
   8	NuVasive	$98,853	$47.53
   9	Koppers	$97,590	$46.92
   10	Tesla	$95,700	$46.01	57
   11	Rivian	$95,588	$45.96	30
   12	BorgWarner	$95,197	$45.77	3
   13	Abbott	$93,856	$45.12	14
   14	Corning Incorporated	$93,358	$44.88	14
   15	Burton Snowboards	$92,293	$44.37
   16	BD	$89,640	$43.10	2
   17	Southern California Edison	$89,282	$42.92	5
   18	Whirlpool	$88,617	$42.60
   19	Praxair	$88,023	$42.32
   20	Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co	$87,335	$41.99	1

4. Writing a computer aided design designer job description

   A computer aided design designer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a computer aided design designer job description:

   Computer aided design designer job description example

   The Drafter is responsible for creating detailed technical drawings and plans for building and manufacturing by using computer-assisted design and drafting software programs. This position is responsible for collaborating with Drafters and Designers to review engineering designs and drawings to ensure adherence to established specifications and standards.
   Essential Job Functions
   Maintains a safe, secure and healthy environment by adhering to Company/Customer safety standards and practices and to legal regulations, alerting others regarding potential hazards or concern.Performs all duties as assigned and adheres to TEAM's Core Values.Develops design drawings and specification for field equipment, dies/tools and controls using computer-assisted design and drafting software programs.Employs mathematical formulas to develop specifications for machinery and design of specific items.Coordinates with and consults field personnel to design, lay out, or detail components and systems and to resolve design or other issues.Assists in modification and revision of designs in order to correct operating deficiencies or to reduce production problems.Reviews and interprets specifications, sketches, drawings, ideas and related data to assess factors affecting component designs and the procedures and instructions to be followed.Maintains documentation of design drawings, and draws and reproduces illustrations for reference manuals and technical publications to describe operation and maintenance of equipment and components to field personnel and clients.Ensure that drafts and sketches align with company procedures, regulations and client standards.
   Job Qualifications
   High school diploma or equivalent preferred.Previous experience with Drafting or relevant industry experience preferred.Customer service experience preferred; specifically dealing with end users.Knowledge of manufacturing processes, machining, welding and forming preferred.Travel Requirements: 0%-25%
   Work Conditions
   Position is located at the corporate office Work is conducted in a semi-private office/cubicle setting Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Some flexibility in hours is allowed, but the employee must be available during the core work hours of 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
   Physical and Mental Requirements
   Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits employee to communicate effectively Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time with or without reasonable accommodation Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodations, which permits employee to investigations Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permit the employee to perform routine office duties Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodations to perform office duties and travel when necessary to off-site locations Ability to maintain focus and multitask effectively Excellent communication skills
   
   TEAM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
   This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right computer aided design designer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with computer aided design designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit computer aided design designers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your computer aided design designer job on Zippia to find and recruit computer aided design designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with computer aided design designer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new computer aided design designer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the computer aided design designer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new computer aided design designer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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