Is getting an Engineering degree useless for CAD career?

Question

I will be obtaining a degree in civil engineering soon, and realized that everywhere I have co-oped at, I use Autocad alot, and the firms realize I am good at it (I have 7+ yrs of experience, 23yrs old) and that is all they ever have me do! I figure I may as well persue an autocad-related career, but is my engineering degree going to be overkill, and not compensated for?

no doubt I am going to complete the degree, i have 4 classes to take! Just wanted to get an idea of what you guys thought. Thanks for the input, and you are right, engineering can take you in many different directions.

Answer 1

Well, first off you should still get paid as an engineer regardless (instead of say a drafter or someone who might just enter others drawings).

I wouldn't worry about it though. First off, most places do not give co-ops technical work (true analysis or design work) and often use them as just data entry like you have been doing. Once you graduate you should still end up using CAD a lot, but your work should gravitate more and more to you doing your own designs and then drawing them up instead of just entering other people's designs. A good engineering firm will realize your talent and be more apt to give you raises/promotion because you are good at your job.

Answer 2

Dude, I am a co-op right now too. I have had many friends that are in your situation. The difference seems to change in your first 3 years out of school. The pay is about 2/3 if that, of an engineer starting out. Cad personelle have no chance for moving up in their jobs. they will always be cad personelle

Answer 3

An engineering degree is never useless. It is such a versatile career choice. Someday you may get tired of CAD work and want to expand or change what you do and having that degree will only help you. I think you would regret not getting it on down the road.

BTW on the compensation aspect. If they like you and want you to stay with them they will compensated you. That degree will not change that.

Answer 4

Without the degree, you will have a lot more trouble trying to find a position. With a degree, you will probably make a little bit more, and your dedication to finish your degree will show a great deal about your ability to see things through to the end. Don't make the same mistake I made - get the degree!!

Answer 5

you are able to desire to pass to grad college and bypass going back for yet another undergrad degree. yet once you're uncertain what you desire to do (based on your super determination from enterprise to IT, apparently such as you're actually not truly effective what you desire to do), then this is probable inadvisable to get a graduate degree (that's truly centred and actual expert) in something you do in contrast to. have you ever regarded at your college's bulletin to work out what classes which you have have been given already taken would count quantity in the direction of yet another degree? That way, you are able to desire to possibly purely ought to pass back for one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days (which may be greater value-effective than 2 years of grad college getting a level you do no longer choose). you additionally can get a 2-3 hundred and sixty 5 days degree in yet another field (like it) and get a activity jointly as you establish what you actual need to do. It seems such as you are able to desire to talk to a profession counselor, too. sturdy good fortune with that.

Answer 6

Engineers are generally more expensive
than Cad operators.
The experience will help you with
communication though.

Answer 7

From what I've seen, CAD focused jobs really look for experience not degrees. Go to careerbuilder.com and put in CAD and see what requirements you see.