Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD

Types of Degrees Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate	54
Associate’s Degree	24
Basic Certificate	12
Bachelor’s Degree	2

What Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• 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.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Skills for Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Majors

When studying civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD, 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.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD Majors

As you progress with your civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 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.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

What Can You Do With a Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Major?

People with a civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Civil Drafters	8.1%	$54,920

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD?

This major attracts more men than women. About 88% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	1
Black or African American	0
Hispanic or Latino	2
White	18
International Students	0
Other Races/Ethnicities	3

How Much Do Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD majors often go into careers with median salaries of $56,700. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

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 Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD

Some careers associated with civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
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)	14.3%
Some College Courses	19.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	47.6%
Bachelor’s Degree	19.1%

Online Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Programs

In the 2018-2019 academic year, 30 schools offered some type of civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD program. 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)	16	1
Certificate (1-2 years)	15	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	1	0
Associate’s Degree	14	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	16	1
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD Worth It?

The median salary for a civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD 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!

Trades Related to Civil Drafting & CAD/CADD

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to civil drafting and civil engineering CAD/CADD.

Major	Number of Grads
General Drafting & Design Technology/Technician	5,247
CAD/CADD Drafting &/or Design Technology/Technician	2,518
Architectural Drafting & Architectural CAD/CADD	1,266
Mechanical Drafting & Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD	1,255
Other Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians	140
Electrical/Electronics Drafting & Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD	60

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.