I'm living in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, and have been working in the landscaping industry for about 13 years. I'm 39 married with a new baby and looking to change careers for various reasons. I met someone that told me based on my interest in computers that I should look at autocad school. I talked to some local colleges, 2 year mostly; and am considering getting the basic 5 course/operators certificate for autocad that is offered in my area.
 
I was wondering if the job opportunities and pay are as good as what this person told me...They said that the jobs were in great demand, and the starting pay for my area is somewhere $15.00 an hour, and after a few years of working with an engineering firm I could be making 20.00+ and hour. Is this true? Is the operators certificate a good place to start? Is there job security in this field? etc...
 
Maybe someone can help me get on the right track with this career. If so I would be very greatful. And possibly I will mow your yard in return... j/k of course.  I'm trying to get out of that kind of work, lol.
 
Thanks for any advice/replies.
 
JohnHedge2008-06-14 06:43:42

Thank you for viewing my post...

Take the advice my friend. I just finished school 2 weeks, ago with CAD certificates, and I landed an awesome job not even 2 weeks after graduation. The pay is great, the benefits are amazing. It's WAY worth the time and money to learn it. I live in Houston, and the opportunities are endless. The skies the limit!

John,
 
Like any career, it really depends on what you're interested in.  If your interest in computers is related to graphic design, modeling, animations, etc. then a CAD type career might be a great solution.
 
The thing with AutoCAD and other CAD programs are that they are used in so many different industries and applications.  So even if you do start to enroll in classes, don't limit yourself just to an engineering firm if you're not particularly biased towards that field.
 
It sounds like, with your landscaping experience, you might be able to go into Landscape Design or such; which a lot of design firms will use CAD programs.
 
Also, pay structure is different all across the U.S.  I just recently moved out to Las Vegas from Cincinnati, OH, and the pay is definitely much different out here; and it definitely differs according to the industry you choose to go into.
 
Ha... sorry lengthy lecture for just some advice... mainly just keep your eyes and ears open to many possibilities.  Almost every industry can use a CAD drafter or designer for some reason (police use it to set up logistics for crime sites, engineers might design or model new products, electricians will create electrical schematics, architects create blueprints and designs, sound designers will create event plots and models, animators for all sorts of media, etc. etc.)