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The differences between plumbing designers and computer aided design designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a plumbing designer, becoming a computer aided design designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a plumbing designer has an average salary of $61,468, which is higher than the $60,150 average annual salary of a computer aided design designer.
The top three skills for a plumbing designer include revit, plumbing and fire protection. The most important skills for a computer aided design designer are auto cad, revit, and aided design.
| Plumbing Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,468 | $60,150 |
| Hourly rate | $29.55 | $28.92 |
| Growth rate | 2% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 44,975 | 92,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 42% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
Plumbing Designers are responsible for developing plumbing and drainage systems for residential or commercial areas. Their duties include providing design specifications to clients, producing schematics, achieving key performance metrics, and conducting quality assurance assessments. They contribute technical content for marketing purposes, sourcing equipment, and guiding internal departments on installation procedures. Plumbing Designers also prepare client proposals, supervise junior staff, and provide staff training sessions.
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.
Plumbing designers and computer aided design designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Plumbing Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average salary | $61,468 | $60,150 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $85,000 | Between $40,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Belcan | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a plumbing designer and a computer aided design designer in terms of educational background:
| Plumbing Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 42% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Drafting And Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between plumbing designers' and computer aided design designers' demographics:
| Plumbing Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average age | 41 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.3% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | 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 | 5% | 6% |