Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Depending on your salary goals, you might need to continue your education throughout your engineering career. Commonly offered degree programs include:
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
Careers in the engineering field are changing along with the world economy. The growth of computers and microprocessors is making software engineers and computer engineers in high demand. However, many of these jobs are growing in countries like China and India. To be successful, you might need to pursue a graduate degree to increase your earning potential and make yourself a more marketable employee. Beyond the global job market, engineers are always in demand. Infrastructure projects designed to boost the economy also boost the job market for civil engineers. Companies need engineers for their research and development projects, and some of the world’s most renowned software and computer companies rely on the creativity of their engineers to remain relevant in today’s fast-paced world.
Most Bachelor’s Degrees for engineering take four years, and some engineers go to college for six years to earn combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. A select number of engineers return to school to get their PhD, while other engineers enter the workforce with a two-year Associate’s Degree.
How to Become a CADD Engineer
A computer-aided design and drafting (CADD or CAD) engineer has earned a degree in engineering and is also proficient in CADD. Although there are several types of engineering specialties to choose from, if you become a CADD engineer you will qualify for many more types of jobs within your field.
CADD Education
The majority of engineers hold a bachelors degree from a four-year college. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the first two years of school will consist of core classes, with an emphasis on mathematics and science. Typical beginning courses you will take to become a CADD engineer are algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, physics, biology, and chemistry as well as the required core classes such as English and social science. You might consider taking computer aided drafting during the first two years of college, as you might work in a drafting career while earning your degree.
Upon entering your third year of school you will need to decide what type of CADD engineer career you wish to focus on. The majority of engineering degrees are electronics and electrical, but civil, mechanical, environmental, and industrial engineers among other CADD engineer careers. Your last two years of college will consist of engineering classes with a concentration on your specialty as well as 2-D and 3-D modeling CADD and engineering graphics.
CADD Salaries
Engineers enjoy the highest starting salaries of any occupation and are well paid throughout their careers. You can expect your CADD engineer salary to be above average, as your skill set will be in higher demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual engineer salary in 2008 depended on the type of engineer; electrical engineers earned $82,160 while mechanical engineers earned $74,920. A 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers states that beginning engineers who graduated with a bachelor’s degree had significantly higher starting salaries than those in other career fields, with CADD engineer salaries again leading the field as being most desirable to employers:
- Electrical/electronics and communications 60,125
- Mechanical 58,766
- Civil 52,048
(Salary data retrieved 6/27/11)
To get the education you need to begin an exciting career in computer aided drafting and design (CADD), find a degree program now.