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The differences between product designers and computer aided design designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a product designer and a computer aided design designer. Additionally, a product designer has an average salary of $102,033, which is higher than the $60,150 average annual salary of a computer aided design designer.
The top three skills for a product designer include sketch, visual design and UI. The most important skills for a computer aided design designer are auto cad, revit, and aided design.
| Product Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $102,033 | $60,150 |
| Hourly rate | $49.05 | $28.92 |
| Growth rate | 3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 98,465 | 92,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 40 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A product designer's key responsibilities are to perform design research, selecting the best materials, and develop user storyboards for the client and users' best interest. Product designers usually work with a whole design team, documenting suggestions to deliver high-quality outputs or improve existing products to match the market trends. They must also communicate with other skilled professionals to enhance their ideas and consult clients for any necessary adjustments that would affect the total user experience. A product designer should also have extensive knowledge of the consumer's preference to make the design more appealing and engaging.
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.
Product designers and computer aided design designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Product Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average salary | $102,033 | $60,150 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $152,000 | Between $40,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Netflix | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a product designer and a computer aided design designer in terms of educational background:
| Product Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Drafting And Design |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | LeTourneau University |
Here are the differences between product designers' and computer aided design designers' demographics:
| Product Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.2% Female, 25.8% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 8% | 6% |