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Careers
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 | Construction companies |
| Architectural firms |
| Machinery manufacturers |
| Engineering firms |
| Electronics firms |
| Electrical manufacturers |
| Transportation manufacturers |
| Communications manufacturers |
| Consultants |
| High-technology companies |
| Utility companies |
| Government agencies |
In Texas, first year salaries for
technical designers start around $25,000.
After five years experience, the average salary is around $30,000.
With the right experience, some technical designers make over $50,000 per year.
The next step up from a
technical designer might be a lead designer or
supervisor. Opportunities will vary depending on the company.
One possibility is to go back to school and get a four-year degree and become an engineer.
Some employers will hire new CADD technicians with a one-year certificate of proficiency. Many employers, however, require their new designers to have an AAS degree in design technology.
| Be interested in the mechanical design or structure of things |
| Like math, technical drawing, computer graphics and engineering ideas |
| Be patient, methodical, meticulous about details |
| Have a passion for getting the little things right |
| Like to work at the computer for long periods of time alone |
| Enjoy sharing your work with others and discussing design points |
| Able to take rejection and handle constant change |
| Be aggressive |
| Be a good problem solver, think logically and analytically |
| Possess good communications |
Technical
designers use computer-based systems to produce or revise technical
illustrations needed in the design and development of machines, products,
buildings, manufacturing processes, oil and chemical processing and other work.