CAD technician | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Computer-aided design (CAD) technicians use software to design buildings, machinery, goods and components.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
Re

Produce drawings, using computer-assisted drafting systems (CAD) or drafting machines, or by hand, using compasses, dividers, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices.
Draft plans and detailed drawings for structures, installations, and construction projects, such as highways, sewage disposal systems, and dikes, working from sketches or notes.
Review rough sketches, drawings, specifications, and other engineering data received from civil engineers to ensure that they conform to design concepts.
Draw maps, diagrams, and profiles, using cross-sections and surveys, to represent elevations, topographical contours, subsurface formations, and structures.
Supervise and train other technologists, technicians, and drafters.
Determine the order of work and method of presentation, such as orthographic or isometric drawing.
Finish and duplicate drawings and documentation packages according to required mediums and specifications for reproduction, using blueprinting, photography, or other duplicating methods.
Correlate, interpret, and modify data obtained from topographical surveys, well logs, and geophysical prospecting reports.
Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections, or technical investigations to obtain data required to revise construction drawings.
Explain drawings to production or construction teams and provide adjustments as necessary.
Determine quality, cost, strength, and quantity of required materials, and enter figures on materials lists.
Locate and identify symbols on topographical surveys to denote geological and geophysical formations or oil field installations.
Calculate excavation tonnage and prepare graphs and fill-hauling diagrams for use in earth-moving operations.
Calculate weights, volumes, and stress factors and their implications for technical aspects of designs.
Plot characteristics of boreholes for oil and gas wells from photographic subsurface survey recordings and other data, representing depth, degree, and direction of inclination.

Average salary
45,350 GBP *
per year

Average salary for CAD technician

45,745 GBP
41,601 GBP

Average salary for part-time CAD technician

Average salary for full-time CAD technician

Showing:

26,200 GBP
32,688 GBP
23,636 GBP

45,350 GBP
41,601 GBP
45,745 GBP

Salary over time for CAD technician

Salary for this role has increased over time

42,085 GBP
42,457 GBP
42,762 GBP
43,584 GBP
45,260 GBP
44,582 GBP
45,350 GBP
45,668 GBP
46,617 GBP

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Future outlook for CAD technicians

Balanced outlook

420 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

1% yearly wage growth (on average)

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a CAD technician and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

48% of people in this role have a Diploma of Higher Education or equivalent
19% of people in this role have a certificate of higher education or equivalent but no degree
19% of people in this role have a Bachelor's degree

You could train in computer-aided design by taking a college course like:

Level 2 Certificate in Engineering Technology
Level 2 Certificate in Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing
Level 3 Diploma in Design and Draughting
T level in Design, Surveying and Planning

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a CAD technician

CAD

Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Cooperation Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. Adaptability/Flexibility Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

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CAD technician | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Future outlook for CAD technicians

CAD technician - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your CAD technician interview

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