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The differences between truss designers and computer aided design designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a truss designer, becoming a computer aided design designer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a computer aided design designer has an average salary of $60,150, which is higher than the $50,866 average annual salary of a truss designer.
The top three skills for a truss designer include mitek, design software and auto cad. The most important skills for a computer aided design designer are auto cad, revit, and aided design.
| Truss Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $50,866 | $60,150 |
| Hourly rate | $24.45 | $28.92 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 45,424 | 92,503 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | Associate Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A truss designer's major responsibility is to design layouts for floors and roofs. They work with architects and engineers to ensure the feasibility of new designs. They also develop schematics through computer-aided design (CAD) software. They are required to work on layouts for roofs and flooring for both residential and commercial buildings.
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.
Truss designers and computer aided design designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truss Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average salary | $50,866 | $60,150 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $70,000 | Between $40,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a truss designer and a computer aided design designer in terms of educational background:
| Truss Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 46% | 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 truss designers' and computer aided design designers' demographics:
| Truss Designer | Computer Aided Design Designer | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |