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CAD Drafter

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April 2, 2024 Updated May 18, 2025 17 minute read

A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a CAD Drafter

A Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Drafter is a skilled professional who creates detailed technical drawings and plans used in a wide array of industries. These digital blueprints are the critical first step in bringing concepts to life, whether for buildings, machinery, infrastructure, or consumer products. Working closely with engineers, architects, and designers, CAD drafters translate initial sketches and specifications into precise 2D and 3D models that guide the manufacturing or construction process.

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Salaries for CAD Drafter

City

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Median

New York

$66,000

$77,000

$102,000

$77,000

San Francisco

$55,000

$67,000

$78,000

$67,000

Seattle

$65,000

$81,000

$105,000

$81,000

See all salaries

City

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th Percentile

Median

New York

$66,000

$77,000

$102,000

$77,000

San Francisco

$55,000

$67,000

$78,000

$67,000

Seattle

$65,000

$81,000

$105,000

$81,000

Austin

$59,000

$67,000

$79,000

$67,000

Toronto

$65,000

$82,000

$116,000

$82,000

London

£33,000

£40,000

£53,000

£40,000

Paris

€35,000

€42,000

€55,000

€42,000

Berlin

€63,000

€72,000

€87,000

€72,000

Tel Aviv

₪8,000

₪12,000

₪14,000

₪12,000

Singapore

S$50,000

S$60,000

S$75,000

S$60,000

Beijing

¥84,300

¥112,000

¥132,000

¥112,000

Shanghai

¥90,000

¥120,000

¥148,000

¥120,000

Shenzhen

¥141,000

¥167,000

¥210,000

¥167,000

Bengalaru

₹323,000

₹450,000

₹580,000

₹450,000

Delhi

₹258,000

₹392,000

₹554,000

₹392,000

Bars indicate relevance. All salaries presented are estimates. Completion of this course does not guarantee or imply job placement or career outcomes.

Path to CAD Drafter

Take the first step.

We've curated 24 courses to help you on your path to CAD Drafter. Use these to develop your skills, build background knowledge, and put what you learn to practice.

Sorted from most relevant to least relevant:

Complete ZWCAD Course

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Complete AutoCAD 2D&3D From Beginners To Expert Course

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Mastering SOLIDWORKS (2024-25): A Complete Course

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CATIA V5 course for beginners

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Quantity Surveying Building Estimation,Cad Excel & Planswift

Quantity Surveying Building Estimation,Cad Excel &...

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AutoCad Civil 3D for Beginners

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MEP Drafting Projects Course

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Complete course in AutoCAD : 2D and 3D

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AutoCAD Civil 3D - MEGA course for Civil Works - AulaGEO

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Revit MEP - Electrical systems - AulaGEO

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3D CAD Fundamental

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Piping Fabrication with Isometrics - Oil&Gas, Mechanical

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3D Modeling for 3D Printing and Laser Cutting on Fusion 360

3D Modeling for 3D Printing and Laser Cutting on Fusion...

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Understanding Welding Symbols

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PTC Creo 5.0 - Essential Training

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Mastering EPLAN: Course on Electrical Engineering Design

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3D Printing from Zero to Hero in Blender – FDM & MSLA

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Design of Fire Alarm Systems based on NFPA 72 codes 2022

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AutoCAD for Landscape Design

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AutoCAD Civil 3D Topographic and Boundary Survey

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Product Development using AutoCAD

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Microsoft Visio 2021 Full Course - Visio Beginner to Expert

Microsoft Visio 2021 Full Course - Visio Beginner to...

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HVAC Designing course (Beginner to Advance Level )

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Master Pipe / Line Sizing As a Process Engineer

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Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.

Mastering CAD/CAM

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A comprehensive and in-depth textbook on CAD/CAM that covers a wide range of topics, including geometric modeling, computer-aided analysis, and computer-aided manufacturing.

Mastering CAD/CAM (Engineering Series)

Hardcover

$$$$

Computer Integrated Manufacturing & Computer Aided...

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Covers advanced topics in CAD/CAM, such as reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, and virtual reality.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing & Computer Aided...

Kindle Edition

Computer Aided Design

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Provides a comprehensive overview of CAD for designers, covering topics such as sketching, modeling, and rendering.

Computer Aided Design: Software and Analytical Tools

Hardcover

Computer Aided Design Software And Analytical Tools

Paperback

Computer Graphics

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A comprehensive and in-depth textbook on CAD that covers a wide range of topics, including geometric modeling, computer-aided analysis, and computer-aided manufacturing.

Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice

Hardcover

Introduction to Computer Graphics

Hardcover

$$$

Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics...

Hardcover

Multimedia: System Architectures and Applications...

Paperback

$$$

Relevant careers

Product Designer

Architectural Drafter

Mechanical Drafter

Civil Drafter

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Technician

Electronics Drafter

CAD Designer

Structural Drafter

Mechanical Design Engineer

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