Also called: CAD Operator, Junior Drafter
Updates drawings and models in CAD software under the direction of engineers and designers.
You get a stack of marked-up drawings with red-pen changes from engineers. You update each one in CAD, check that title blocks and revision numbers are right, and send them out for approval.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. CAD certificate or associate; Autodesk or SolidWorks certification.
Ways in: Certification, Trade school, 2-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: CAD Technology.
Growing slowly (about 0% over 10 years).
High risk for 10 years. AI CAD assistants already make routine drawing updates, so far fewer CAD tech jobs are expected.
Classes: Drafting or CAD, Geometry, Computer science, Art.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-3019.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.