Discover the Best AutoCAD Classes in San Francisco
Drafters, architects, fine artists and professional designers of all kinds use AutoCAD to draw and edit 2D and 3D digital designs simply and efficiently. Before the personal computer was a fixture of the workplace, one had to draw designs by hand, and edits of any kind meant creating a completely new, hand-drawn draft. With AutoCAD, you can revise designs on the fly.
Create precision designs, then share them easily with collaborators across platforms.
Today, AutoCAD is primarily used in the construction, architecture, and engineering, but the software is amenable to any industry that utilizes drafting and design. Interior designers, woodworkers, graphic designers, and fine artists use AutoCAD to plan and realize 2D and 3D designs. Parts of designs are saveable in the program as well, which means that future iterations of an idea are easily replicable and malleable.
With the rise of 3D printing, AutoCAD is more useful than ever. One person alone can brainstorm, envision, plan, and design a new physical product in AutoCAD, then 3D print it. This kind of creative independence allows industrial designers or mechanical engineers to conceive of new ideas then test them in miniature before having to build the product or project at full-scale. The possibilities are truly endless with AutoCAD.
Best AutoCAD Classes & Schools in San Francisco
Introduction to AutoCAD presented by Noble Desktop provides a working foundation in AutoCAD so you can start creating projects right away. This two-session course is open to all experience levels, ages 18 and up, and class sizes average about 30 participants. Learn how to draw and modify quality designs that can be used to fabricate real parts and architectural objects.
Another course offering from Noble Desktop is AutoCAD Level I, an introductory course that covers plotting and printing layouts and sheets, interfacing between model and paper spaces, and using viewports to scale drawings. Other techniques covered in this course include inserting blocks, making text, creating dimensional drawings, and working with layers and templates.This beginner-level course comprises six sessions at a cost of $599.
Autodesk AutoCAD 101 presented by Ledet is an online introductory course that teaches you all you need to know to get started in AutoCAD. Get acquainted with the AutoCAD interface and workflow and start creating 2D and 3D designs. This three-day course is priced at $1799, and it's open to all experience levels.
Presented by Ledet, Autodesk AutoCAD 501 is a five-day bootcamp that 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.
AutoCAD Essentials from Certstaffix Training provides you with the knowledge necessary to create, modify, and work with 2D designs. You will learn how to use the AutoCAD workspace and user interface, use basic drawing, editing, and viewing tools, use layers, reuse symbols or blocks, prepare a layout to be plotted, and add text, hatching, and dimensions. This three-day course is priced at $1730, and all participants receive a Certificate of Completion and a Digital Badge.
San Francisco Industries That Use AutoCAD
Industrial and Mechanical Design
Industrial and mechanical designers are currently finding highly lucrative jobs in San Francisco. Some of the top companies hiring designers at the moment include Frog Design, Peak Design, Devo, and Hims & Hers. Known as a hotbed of innovation where exciting startups are born, the Bay Area is one of the most supportive metro areas in the country for designers interested in fabrication and application.
Construction
While not as vital a player in the construction industry as it used to be, San Francisco continues to grow in the areas of sustainable building and green economy. Designers with facility in AutoCAD are alway in high demand in this industry. Top construction firms in San Francisco include Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co., Build Group, and Plant Construction Co. LP.
Architecture
San Francisco is known for its stunning and unique architecture, and the city continues to be a leader in the architecture industry. AutoCAD is an absolutely crucial tool in the planning and implementation of architectural projects, and the more knowledgeable one is in this robust and complex software application, the more options one will have in looking for professional opportunities. Some of the most respected architecture firms in San Francisco include IwamotoScott Architecture, Form4 Architecture, Mork Ulnes Architects, and Rapt Studio.
AutoCAD Jobs & Salaries in San Francisco
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Francisco is the second most lucrative metro area for drafters with an annual mean wage of $79,000. It is also ranked as the number four metropolitan area for Architectural Drafters to receive a competitive wage. Mechanical Drafters make an annual mean wage of $88,000 in San Francisco according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
