by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology covers Cad/cadd Drafting And/or Design Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Skills And Advanced Computer Software And Hardware To The Creation Of Graphic Representations And Simulations In Support Of Engineering Projects. Includes Instruction In Engineering Graphics, Two-Dimensional And Three-Dimensional Engineering Design, Solids Modeling, Engineering Animation, Computer-Aided Drafting (Cad), Computer-Aided Design (Cadd), And Auto-Cad Techniques. Examples: [Engineering Graphics And Design], [Engineering Graphics Technology]. Read on to learn the key facts every cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology programs.
Across the country, cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology draws strong interest, with 2,476 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 182 schools to determine the best overall colleges for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology programs later in this article.
Programs in CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 336 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 588 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 113 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,308 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
People currently working in careers related to cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 40.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 15.3% |
| Some college courses | 7.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.4% |
| Master’s degree | 2.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology can lead to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 161,833 | 12.3% |
| Mechanical Drafters | 127,074 | 12.6% |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | 114,684 | 13.5% |
| Drafters, All Other | 32,528 | -1.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,976 |
| 4 years | $45,788 |
| 5 years | $51,867 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Drafters, All Other | $114,777 |
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters | $109,781 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $82,779 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $78,252 |
With 182 different cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in cad/cadd drafting &/or design technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
