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3-d modeling and design technology

Types of Degrees 3-d modeling and design technology Majors Are Earning

Those studying 3-d modeling and design technology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	9
Associate’s Degree	14
Master’s Degree	17

What 3-d modeling and design technology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for 3-d modeling and design technology build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that 3-d modeling and design technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in 3-d modeling and design technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Design — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.9 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a 3-d modeling and design technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to 3-d modeling and design technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, 3-d modeling and design technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.8 / 7
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment	4.7 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.8 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	3.8 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.7 / 7
Processing Information	3.6 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by 3-d modeling and design technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
PTC Creo Parametric	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Bentley MicroStation	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
Computer aided design and drafting software CADD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
NavisWorks Jetstream	Computer aided design CAD software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Autodesk Revit	Computer aided design CAD software	✓

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for 3-d modeling and design technology graduates include:

• CAD Draftsman (Computer-Aided Design Draftsman)
• CADD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design and Drafting Drafter)
• Drafter
• AutoCAD Technician
• Design Drafter
• AutoCAD Drafter
• CAD Drafter (Computer-Aided Design Drafter)
• Detailer
• Computer-Aided Design Designer (CAD Designer)
• Designer
• Architectural Drafter
• CAD Designer (Computer Aided Design Designer)
• CAD Draughter (Computer Aided Design Draughter)
• Piping Designer
• Drafting Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to 3-d modeling and design technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	40.1%
Bachelor’s degree	31.4%
Postsecondary certificate	15.3%
Some college courses	7.1%
High school diploma or equivalent	3.4%
Master’s degree	2.6%
Post-doctoral training	0.1%
First professional degree	0.1%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in 3-d modeling and design technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 75% of 3-d modeling and design technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	10	25.0%
Men	30	75.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of 3-d modeling and design technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	21	52.5%
Asian	4	10.0%
Hispanic or Latino	9	22.5%
Black or African American	2	5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	2.5%
International Students	3	7.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do 3-d modeling and design technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of 3-d modeling and design technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$43,976
4 years	$45,788
5 years	$51,867

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $51,867 — roughly 18% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in 3-d modeling and design technology Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, 3-d modeling and design technology graduates earn a median of $45,788 four years after completion — roughly 20% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.13
Architectural Drafting and Architectural CAD/CADD	15.1303
CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/Technician	15.1302
Civil Drafting and Civil Engineering CAD/CADD	15.1304
Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General	15.1301
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other	15.1399
Electrical/Electronics Drafting and Electrical/Electronics CAD/CADD	15.1305
Mechanical Drafting and Mechanical Drafting CAD/CADD	15.1306
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0801
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	15.0101
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0803
Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician	15.0303

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.