Discover the Best AutoCAD Classes in Denver
Denver is known for its aerospace and aviation industries, and it is leader in the energy and green innovation sectors. The Colorado Space Coalition, a group of industry stakeholders whose mission is to "make Colorado a center of excellence for space," is based in Denver, as are many internationally known leaders in aviation, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman among them. Drafters and professionals who use AutoCAD are finding professional opportunities in Denver now in the industries mentioned above as well as construction, architecture, and advertising.
AutoCAD is a software application developed by Autodesk that helps users create 2D and 3D drafts, drawings, and schematics. You can select and save specific elements of drawings to use again in later iterations of a project, and you can edit existing drafts on the fly.
Professionals in a wide range of industries and specializations use AutoCAD to create and share projects efficiently with collaborators across platforms. Make 2D plans or schematics for architecture and construction, or 3D objects for fabrication in the real world.
Numerous new construction projects in Denver are beginning, under way, or being completed in 2023. This means that drafters and designers are finding work in the construction and architectural sector right now, and this development is not likely to slow in the near future.
Best AutoCAD Classes & Schools in Denver
Autodesk AutoCAD 101 is a beginner-level, in-person AutoCAD course presented by Ledet. You will learn how to create 2D and 3D drafts and edit them. Topics will include how to navigate the AutoCAD workspace and interface, how to use the draw, edit, and view tools, how to use layers, how to use blocks, and more. This $1799, three-day course is open to all experience levels.
If you want to gain all the skills necessary to be a professional drafter, then Autodesk AutoCAD 501 is the course for you. This five-day intensive covers 2D and 3D techniques, from interfacing within AutoCAD, to creating new projects and taking them to completion for collaboration. This course begins by introducing you to the basic features and commands in the software, then moves on to creating simple 2D designs. As you progress, you will learn more professional layout techniques that will allow you to edit and manipulate your drawings and designs.
Noble Desktop presents Introduction to AutoCAD, a two session course that teaches you how to create 2D drawings and render 3D objects that can be used to create real architectural constructions. This course is open to all experience levels, aged 18 and up, and it is for Window users only.
AutoCAD Level I, also from Noble Desktop, is a course of six sessions that covers the basic tools for drawing and editing with precision, using the layers function, how to use blocks, annotating drafts, and setting up layout for printing. This is a beginner-level course priced at $599, and it is open to PC users.
AutoCAD Level 1 presented by ONLC Training Centers enables beginners to create 2D drawings in the software. The course begins with a lesson on the AutoCAD workspace and user interface, then progresses to using basic drawing, editing, and viewing tools. Other topics include layers for organization, inserting blocks, plotting a draft to print, and adding text, hatching, and dimensions. This $1,495 course is open to all experience levels.
Denver Industries That Use AutoCAD
Aerospace
As of 2020, there were 290 aerospace companies located in Denver which employed approximately 33,460 individuals. The average wage in the Denver aerospace industry as of 2020 was $143,000. By now, these numbers have grown and more drafters and designers are finding professional opportunities and freelance gigs in the Denver metro area. One enormously important anchor of the Colorado aerospace industry, the Colorado Space Coalition, is located in the city as well. As Denver's aerospace industry continues to grow, new projects to create the necessary infrastructure will create jobs for drafters.
Aviation
According to the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, over 970 aviation companies employing approximately 21,000 workers call Denver home. The average wage in Denver's aviation industry is $76,000. Infrastructure, shipping, logistics, and urban planning all are crucial aspects of the aviation industry, and in all of them professionals use AutoCAD to plan, create, edit, and realize projects. Drafters, designers, and engineers use the AutoCAD software to keep this industry moving forward. Some of the largest aviation companies in Denver include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman.
Construction
New development and urban expansion in the city of Denver means new construction, and without AutoCAD few projects would see the light of day. Drafters and AutoCAD professionals are finding work every day in Denver, and in well-paying positions. The average salary of a Drafter in Denver is about $66,000. Some of the largest general contractors in the Denver metro area include Kiewit Corp., Hensel Phelps, Holder Construction, Saunders Construction Inc., and FCI Constructors Inc.
AutoCAD Jobs & Salaries in Denver
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic's Occupational Outlook Handbook, Denver is ranked ninth on a list of top paying metropolitan areas of Architectural and Civil Drafters and eighth for all other Drafters. The average wage for a Drafter in Denver is about $73,000 annually. For Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Denver is ranked seventh in terms of earning potential.
