Find Trade Colleges
Design Engineering Tech
Types of Degrees Design Engineering Tech Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many drafting & design engineering technology graduations there were in 2021-2022 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Basic Certificate | 3,716 |
| Associate Degree | 2,955 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 1,622 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 337 |
What Design Engineering Tech Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to design engineering tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Design Engineering Tech Majors
Design Engineering Tech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills for Design Engineering Tech Majors
When studying design engineering tech, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Abilities for Design Engineering Tech Majors
Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a design engineering tech student include the following:
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Design Engineering Tech Major?
People with a design engineering tech degree often go into the following careers:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural Drafters | 8.1% | $54,920 |
| Civil Drafters | 8.1% | $54,920 |
| Drafters | 8.2% | $51,850 |
| Electrical Drafters | 6.9% | $60,070 |
| Electronic Drafters | 6.9% | $60,070 |
| Mechanical Drafters | 5.2% | $55,920 |
Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Design Engineering Tech?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of design engineering tech majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 135 |
| Black or African American | 139 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 593 |
| White | 1,844 |
| International Students | 65 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 179 |
Geographic Diversity
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Design Engineering Tech. About 2.2% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Vietnam
- Saudi Arabia
- Mexico
How Much Do Design Engineering Tech Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Design Engineering Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $54,240 to $59,010 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Design Engineering Tech
Some careers associated with design engineering tech require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to design engineering tech have obtained the following education levels.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 5.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 20.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.0% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 36.7% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 23.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 4.9% |
| First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 0.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 0.0% |
Online Design Engineering Tech Programs
The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 412 | 16 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 20 | 3 |
| Associate’s Degree | 538 | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3 | 0 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 12 | 3 |
| Post-Master’s | 1 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 1 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Design Engineering Tech Worth It?
The median salary for a design engineering tech grad is $56,700 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 42% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $336,000 after 20 years!
Explore Major by State
Alabama
California
District of Columbia
Idaho
Kansas
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
New York
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Utah
West Virginia
Alaska
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Oregon
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin
Trades Related to Design Engineering Tech
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to design engineering tech.
| Major | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Industrial Production Technology | 11,288 |
| Electromechanical Engineering Technology | 10,780 |
| Environmental Control Technology | 9,376 |
| Electronics Engineering Technology | 8,347 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 6,553 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | 6,205 |
| Construction Engineering Technology | 4,299 |
| General Engineering Technology | 3,841 |
| Quality Control Technology | 3,720 |
| Computer Engineering Technology | 3,509 |
| Engineering Technology (Other) | 1,907 |
| Energy Systems Technologies | 1,277 |
| Architectural Engineering Technology | 1,239 |
| Civil Engineering Technology | 1,155 |
| Engineering-Related Technologies | 969 |
| Mining & Petroleum Technology | 410 |
| Nuclear Engineering Technology | 235 |
| Nanotechnology | 104 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Pixabay under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.