CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
This program equips students with advanced technical expertise in digital design and visualization, focusing on the development of precise technical drawings and dynamic simulations essential to modern engineering workflows. Through hands-on training with industry-standard software and tools, learners master the creation of detailed, accurate representations that support design, analysis, and manufacturing processes across diverse technical fields.
- Engineering Graphics: Foundations in technical drawing standards, annotation practices, and visual communication principles used to convey design intent across engineering disciplines.
- Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Engineering Design: Techniques for constructing detailed 2D schematics and complex 3D models that reflect real-world components and systems with precision and clarity.
- Solids Modeling: Advanced methods for building parametric, feature-based 3D models that support design iteration, structural analysis, and manufacturing readiness.
- Engineering Animation: Skills in creating dynamic visualizations that demonstrate motion, assembly sequences, and system functionality for design validation and presentation.
- Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD): Proficiency in using CAD platforms to produce accurate, scalable technical drawings used in construction, manufacturing, and product development.
- Computer-Aided Design (CADD): In-depth training in integrated design environments that combine drafting, modeling, and documentation tools for comprehensive engineering project support.
- AutoCAD Techniques: Mastery of Autodesk’s flagship CAD software, including workflow optimization, tool customization, and best practices for drafting and modeling in professional settings.
CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology degrees, including Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Mechanical Drafters and Architectural and Civil Drafters. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 185,480 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Drafters 17-3012 | $73,720 | $48,680 - $110,180 | 20,020 | $35.44 |
| Mechanical Drafters 17-3013 | $68,510 | $46,500 - $107,600 | 39,900 | $32.94 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters 17-3011 | $64,280 | $44,040 - $98,190 | 109,550 | $30.90 |
| Drafters, All Other 17-3019 | $62,010 | $42,170 - $96,620 | 16,010 | $29.81 |
CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,033 in Alabama to $88,430 in District of Columbia—a 67% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Alaska, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 185,480 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology is found at Valencia College (141 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (94 graduates), Hennepin Technical College (HTC) (84 graduates), Glendale Community College (GCC) (65 graduates), and The Fab School (52 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,177 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
141 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
94 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| Hennepin Technical College (HTC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
84 | Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Public | hennepintech.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
65 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| The Fab School |
Other Award
|
52 | Rancho Cucamonga, California | Private | thefabschool.com |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Other Award
|
50 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Residency
Other Award
|
49 | Lakewood, Colorado | Public | rrcc.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
46 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Elgin Community College (ECC) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
45 | Elgin, Illinois | Public | elgin.edu |
| Minnesota State College Southeast |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
45 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | southeastmn.edu |
| SUNY College of Technology (SUNY Delhi) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
39 | Delhi, New York | Public | delhi.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Other Award
|
37 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Trine University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Angola, Indiana | Private | trine.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Terra State Community College |
Other Award
|
32 | Fremont, Ohio | Public | terra.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
31 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
Other Award
|
30 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| Oakton College |
Residency
Other Award
|
29 | Des Plaines, Illinois | Public | oakton.edu |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
28 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | abtech.edu |
| Germanna Community College (GCC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Locust Grove, Virginia | Public | germanna.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Johnson County Community College (JCCC) |
Associate's
|
26 | Overland Park, Kansas | Public | jccc.edu |
| Ridgewater College |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Willmar, Minnesota | Public | ridgewater.edu |
| Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Athens, Georgia | Public | athenstech.edu |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Ogden-Weber Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Ogden, Utah | Public | otech.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
23 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Rome, Georgia | Public | gntc.edu |
| Lanier Technical College (Lanier Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Gainesville, Georgia | Public | laniertech.edu |
| Alamance Community College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Graham, North Carolina | Public | alamancecc.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Other Award
|
19 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Bridgerland Technical College (BTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
19 | Logan, Utah | Public | btech.edu |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Hampton, Virginia | Public | vpcc.edu |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Associate's
|
19 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | Public | pct.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Residency
Other Award
|
18 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Associate's
Residency
|
18 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| YTI Career Institute (YTI) |
Associate's
|
18 | York, Pennsylvania | Private | yti.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Sanborn, New York | Public | niagaracc.suny.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Other Award
|
17 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| College of Western Idaho (CWI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Nampa, Idaho | Public | cwi.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
16 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Manatee Technical College (MTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | Bradenton, Florida | Public | manateetech.edu |
| Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | New Port Richey, Florida | Public | phsc.edu |
| Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Oglesby, Illinois | Public | ivcc.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Harford Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
16 | Bel Air, Maryland | Public | harford.edu |
| Stark State College |
Other Award
|
16 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
16 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Other Award
|
15 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Dunwoody College of Technology (DCT) |
Associate's
|
15 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | dunwoody.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Associate's
|
15 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College |
Other Award
|
15 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | reynolds.edu |
| Joliet Junior College (JJC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Joliet, Illinois | Public | jjc.edu |
| Century College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (TSCT) |
Associate's
|
14 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Public | stevenscollege.edu |
| Lee College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
14 | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Other Award
|
13 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Waubonsee Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Sugar Grove, Illinois | Public | waubonsee.edu |
| Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | kvcc.edu |
| State Fair Community College (SFCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Sedalia, Missouri | Public | sfccmo.edu |
| Charter College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
12 | Anchorage, Alaska | Private | chartercollege.edu |
| Florida State College (FSCJ) |
Other Award
|
12 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | fscj.edu |
| Triton College |
Other Award
|
12 | River Grove, Illinois | Public | triton.edu |
| Lake Land College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Mattoon, Illinois | Public | lakelandcollege.edu |
| Autry Technology Center (Autry Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Enid, Oklahoma | Public | autrytech.edu |
| Carroll Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Westminster, Maryland | Public | carrollcc.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| Craven Community College |
Other Award
|
10 | New Bern, North Carolina | Public | cravencc.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Lewis and Clark Community College (L&C) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Godfrey, Illinois | Public | lc.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Other Award
|
9 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | El Reno, Oklahoma | Public | cvtech.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Other Award
|
8 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Morton College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Cicero, Illinois | Public | morton.edu |
| Kellogg Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
8 | Battle Creek, Michigan | Public | kellogg.edu |
| Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Rochester, Minnesota | Public | rctc.edu |
| Dixie Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Saint George, Utah | Public | dixietech.edu |
| Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Thomasville, Georgia | Public | southernregional.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Orlando, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| Suncoast Technical College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Sarasota, Florida | Public | sarasotacountyschools.net |
| South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
7 | Americus, Georgia | Public | southgatech.edu |
| John Wood Community College (JWCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Quincy, Illinois | Public | jwcc.edu |
| Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Hutchinson, Kansas | Public | hutchcc.edu |
| Washburn Institute of Technology (Washburn Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Topeka, Kansas | Public | washburntech.edu |
| Salina Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
7 | Salina, Kansas | Public | salinatech.edu |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) |
Other Award
|
7 | Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts | Public | massbay.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Master's
|
7 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology programs
How much can I earn with a CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology degree?
Salaries for CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology graduates vary by role and location. Electrical and Electronics Drafters earn a median of $73,720 annually, while Mechanical Drafters earn around $68,510. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $88,430 compared to $53,033 in Alabama. Approximately 185,480 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology programs?
Currently 182 accredited institutions offer CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Valencia College (141 graduates), Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) (94 graduates), and Hennepin Technical College (HTC) (84 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 5,046 in 2010 to a peak of 2,532 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,476 in 2023-24. This represents a 51% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a CAD and CADD Drafting and Design Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Mechanical Drafters, and Architectural and Civil Drafters. Related occupations employ approximately 185,480 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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