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Job outlook for design technicians in the United States
Design technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected design technician job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About -100 new jobs for design technicians are projected over the next decade.
Design technician salaries have increased 8% for design technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,951 design technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 48,394 active design technician job openings in the US.
The average design technician salary is $62,288.
Are design technician jobs in demand?
Design technician job and salary trends over time
Design technician jobs over time
Design technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,951 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 10,432 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,680 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 11,034 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 11,077 | 0.00% |
Average design technician salary over time
Design technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,288 | $29.95 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $61,517 | $29.58 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $60,561 | $29.12 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $59,455 | $28.58 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $57,566 | $27.68 | +1.5% |
Design technician jobs by state
Most common states for design technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 144 | 21% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 147 | 20% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,154 | 17% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 231 | 17% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 103 | 17% |
| 6 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 816 | 15% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 602 | 15% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 113 | 15% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 448 | 14% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 185 | 14% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 138 | 14% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 716 | 13% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,238 | 12% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,193 | 12% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 697 | 12% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 433 | 12% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 227 | 12% |
| 18 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 123 | 12% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 351 | 11% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 119 | 11% |
Most common cities for design technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | 2 | 6% | $61,994 |
| 2 | Carmel | 3 | 3% | $50,733 |
| 3 | Lafayette | 2 | 3% | $50,389 |
| 4 | Pasadena | 3 | 2% | $75,900 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | 2 | 2% | $54,813 |
| 6 | Gainesville | 2 | 2% | $49,236 |
| 7 | Denver | 8 | 1% | $48,599 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 5 | 1% | $45,091 |
| 9 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $50,455 |
| 10 | Jacksonville | 5 | 1% | $48,805 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs | 4 | 1% | $48,665 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 3 | 1% | $53,088 |
| 13 | Orlando | 3 | 1% | $49,509 |
| 14 | Lakewood | 2 | 1% | $48,658 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $75,903 |
| 16 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $83,336 |
| 17 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $63,004 |
| 18 | Houston | 2 | 0% | $44,483 |
Design Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of design technician experts
Michigan Technological University
ADDA
What general advice would you give to a Design Technician?
John Irwin EdD: Engineering technology graduates are masters of technology, gaining a broad and deep understanding of the processes, systems, tools, and techniques necessary to construct, modify, operate, and maintain an engineering design. They act as technological integrators, bridging the gap between the skilled trades and engineering fundamentals. This is a great career path for those who enjoy engineering concepts but would rather spend time working with their hands solving specific technical issues than tackling broader, more complex design challenges.
What will help Design Technicians increase their earning potential?
John Irwin EdD: Engineering technology graduates develop, design, and implement engineering and technology solutions, typically pursuing engineering careers in design, construction, and product improvement. They work both in an office setting with design and simulation software as well as on the production/onsite setting troubleshooting issues for continuous improvements.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Design Technician job market given the pandemic?
Dan Rodenbaugh: Random thoughts regarding the future workforce in engineering related occupations:
This pandemic has shown that certain occupations lend themselves to telecommuting (working from home). I would think that many aspects of CAD/Engineering Tech work could be done from home - assuming the technology available to the teleworker lends itself to that: high-speed internet, computer equipment at home capable of running those software programs, etc.
One drawback re: working from home would be IT security. I would think that engineering firms would be concerned about theft of intellectual property, industrial espionage, etc. When someone is working from home, their IT security would not be comparable to working in an office.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Design Technicians in the next 3-5 years?
Dan Rodenbaugh: Personal computers and internet, better off-site interaction.