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How a Software Tester makes a difference

Software is used in many different situations, on our mobiles phones, desktop computers, to run machinery, gather data, and to design things. It’s relied upon by individuals and businesses who use software to work properly to complete what they need to do.

New digital products also need new software to go with them and there are frequent updates to improve performance and product functionality. You could be the technician that tests software and tries to break it, so the final version is as perfect as possible.

The type of work a Software Tester will do

  • Designing and building test cases
  • Checking software meets security, performance, and usability requirements
  • Carrying out manual and automated tests
  • Finding bugs and issues with how software works, so they can be fixed
  • Contributing to software development
  • Working independently to complete tests
  • Working collaboratively to develop solutions
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Software Tester role

A passion for understanding how technology works.

A knack for using new software or creating things on computers.

The ability to help others understand complex ideas and implement what they’ve learned.

What you can bring to the Software Tester role

The ability to focus, research problems and make accurate decisions.

The confidence to work independently and take responsibility for completing tasks accurately.

What you can bring to the Software Tester role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- gaming and technology

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Software Tester

You will have the option to apply your software testing skills to many different environments based on the products and services you find most interesting.

Teaching others how to test software and record findings could be another step in your career, or you could progress to designing software yourself.

How to become a Software Tester

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification in Computing or Software Development.
  • An apprenticeship as a Software Tester.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You can be a software tester in many kinds of organisation, from a big tech brand that creates consumer products, to a large multinational organisation focused on business applications, to a smaller consulting firm that works on a contract basis, perhaps for the government, on health, education or defence projects.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Software Test Analyst
Software QA (Quality Assurance) Tester
Automation Tester
Integration Tester
Penetration Tester

How a Post Production Technician makes a difference

You’ve probably seen footage of directors making films and directing the actors on set, but you might be less familiar with the work that goes on afterwards to create the final film.

This stage of work is called post production. It involves precision fine-tuning of colour, audio and special effects. It’s part of the process for several media industries – advertising, radio and tv, as well as film. You could be the technician who helps make remarkable creative work.

The type of work a Post Production Technician will do

  • Supporting the transition of raw footage or audio into the finished product
  • Making sure people have the right files to work on
  • Saving files, labelling them and storing them securely
  • Helping to calibrate machines
  • Applying technical specifications
  • Being responsible for high profile material
  • Engaging with clients and creative teams
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

An interest in the creative and media industries.

The ability to analyse high volumes of material.

The confidence and skills to create things on computers and try new technology and software.

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

An ability to work independently, managing your own time and prioritising tasks.

The skill to instruct others and make sure things happen on time and to the right standard.

What you can bring to the Post Production Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- gaming and technology

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Post Production Technician

At the beginning of your post production career you could focus on learning one specialist technique or get to know several and specialise later on.

With some experience behind you, you might decide you want to work freelance, getting contracts for post production work on a variety of tv programmes, ads and films. 

How to become a Post Production Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • An apprenticeship as a Junior Production Coordinator.
  • An apprenticeship as a Post Production Technical Operator.
  • An apprenticeship as a Post Production Engineer.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

You’ll engage with a wide range of people including directors, clients, production teams and technical operators, who all work together to achieve the same creative goal. You’ll spend time on set to understand what the visual or audio objectives are and be responsible for calibrating the machines that make them achievable.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Dailies Operator
Digital Imaging Technician
Data Wrangler
Grade/Edit assistant
Input/Output Operator
MCR Operator
Media Operator
Offline Assistant
Quality Control Operator
Technical Operator

How an Animation Technician makes a difference

When you first think of animation, you probably imagine big feature films with quirky characters, hilarious stories, and funny voice overs. Films are one of the places where animation is used today but there are also many others.

Organisations of all kinds use animation to bring products, services and experiences to life, in short information films, advertising and computer games. You could be the technician who helps brands, charities, campaigners, game designers, and filmmakers to tell their stories in a fresh and engaging way.

The type of work an Animation Technician will do

  • Creating images that help to tell a story
  • Using different illustration processes – hand drawn, computer generated or 3D objects
  • Interpreting a story board and characters
  • Producing characters’ motions, gestures and expressions
  • Presenting creative ideas
  • Producing repeats of images with minor changes
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

A vivid imagination and excellent drawing skills.

The ability to focus and great attention to detail when you draw.

An interest in how human and animal anatomies work.

An appreciation of different animation styles.

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

The ability to follow instructions carefully and accurately.

A natural instinct for communicating complex ideas simply.

An ease with computers and experience using computer design software.

What you can bring to the Animation Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- gaming and technology

Future career opportunities for an Animation Technician

You could work in an animation studio that specialises in a particular animation style and become a creative director who leads a team. 

Alternatively, you might want to develop your own animation style and  become a freelance animator who is used for a range of projects.

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

How to become an Animation Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Working in animation involves creating alternative worlds and deciding how to communicate messages simply. You’ll be involved in producing a series of still images that will be shown in a rapid sequence to create the illusion of movement. These can be combined with live action, real actors, visual effects, and interactive content to create visual communication that’s really exciting.

How an IT Technician makes a difference

Every organisation today – from schools to hospitals, banks to manufacturers – relies on IT (information technology) to share information, communicate, and collaborate. IT includes infrastructure, such as servers, and software including operating systems and apps.

The installation of new IT can transform a business, but when IT doesn’t work it causes problems. You could be the technician who fixes IT issues, improves processes, creates efficiencies, and enables new ways of working.

The type of work an IT Technician will do

  • Testing IT systems and diagnosing issues
  • Changing system and application settings
  • Installing software and security systems
  • Training people on IT software and systems
  • Upgrading network infrastructure and software
  • Enabling remote mobile working
  • Supporting colleagues with IT issues
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the IT Technician role

An interest in technology and the ways it can improve how people live and businesses work.

Confidence using new software and apps and creating things on a computer.

A natural ability to look at a problem logically and consider all options before deciding on the best way forward.

What you can bring to the IT Technician role

Confidence to put what you’ve learnt into practice and teach others what you’ve learned.

The ability to analyse detailed information and organise computer files and data with precision.

What you can bring to the IT Technician role

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- gaming and technology

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for an IT Technician

You could become a specialist who focuses on a specific network or software solution. Or you might concentrate on an individual industry, learning about the particular IT challenges it needs to solve.

With experience, you’ll also have the opportunity to move from IT support to more senior roles, perhaps in an IT consultancy or in a major organisation, moving up to an IT manager, supervisor, or director position.

How to become an IT Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

There are wide-ranging opportunities in IT: working on the front line providing IT support to colleagues or customers, or in network design and implementation, bringing new infrastructure and software to organisations that want to improve how they operate. With the growth of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence, you could also be involved in developing and maintaining high-tech manufacturing plants.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

IT Solutions Technician
Technical Analyst
Service Analyst
IT Systems Support
IT Support Technician
IT Services Desk
Technical Service Desk

How a Data Technician makes a difference

Over the last twenty years, a large proportion of our lives and business activity has become digitalised. On an individual level, every app, purchase, video stream, online search, and social media post we make generates huge amounts of data about how we think and behave. Businesses analyse our data to understand and serve us better, and to offer us products and services that will appeal to us.

They also gather data on other factors that impact their business, such as prices, populations, energy use, and weather conditions. You could be the technician who helps to source, format, and present data securely, to help generate insights that lead to improved services and product innovations.

The type of work a Data Technician will do

  • Blending data from multiple sources
  • Following legal and ethical principles of data collection
  • Explaining the insights the data generated
  • Producing reports containing data and insights
  • Interacting with a wide range of people who have an interest in the data
  • Understanding the types of insights people need to collect appropriate data
  • Processing data using computers
  • Storing and managing data
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Data Technician role

A fascination with data and how it can be used to build insights and understanding.

A knack for working with technology and creating things on computers.

A thorough approach to your work and great attention to detail when carrying out tasks and producing reports.

What you can bring to the Data Technician role

A natural instinct to look at a problem from different angles to come up with the best solution.

The ability to think carefully about a subject or idea, ask the right questions and act on what you’ve learned.

Skill at defining or identifying a problem and coming up with a number of potential solutions.

What you can bring to the Data Technician role

A knack for communicating complex ideas to other people and explaining how to do things.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- exploring problems and finding answers

- gaming and technology

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Data Technician

You could build a career in data analytics in a large accounting or consulting firm, so teams can serve and inform clients in diverse sectors. As your experience grows, you can lead a team of analysts.

Alternatively you might join a consumer retail, marketing agency, or public sector organisation, and use data to develop products, campaigns or services.

How to become a Data Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification in Computer Science or Data Analytics.
  • An apprenticeship as a Data Analyst.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Data collection and analytics is a big part of many industries, including finance, retail, education, health, media, manufacturing, and hospitality. As a Data Technician you will be required to present data securely in a relevant way, so other people understand the insights the data has generated and the outcomes it can help them achieve.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Data Engineer
Data and Reporting Analyst
Security Architect

How a Cyber Security Technician makes a difference

Any sector or organisation that uses technology needs cyber security strategies to protect them from cyber criminals. These criminals can either be individual hackers or organised crime organisations. Both continuously find new ways to steal customer information, business data, and money by accessing online accounts and interrupting transactions.

There are many different kinds of threats that happen online, including malware that releases viruses into computer networks, ransomware that infiltrates systems and asks for payments, and phishing that seeks out personal information. You could be the technician that finds new ways to stop criminals from destroying lives and businesses.

The type of work a Cyber Security Technician will do

  • Researching and investigating cyberattack techniques
  • Identifying security threats and hazards
  • Supporting cyber security risk assessments
  • Developing security designs
  • Configuring and rolling out cyber security technology
  • Developing code or scripts to create a control system
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Communicating complex ideas
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Cyber Security Technician role

An interest in technology and how people use it.

The confidence to create things on computers and try new software and systems.

The ability to think carefully about a subject or idea, ask questions and act on what you’ve learned.

What you can bring to the Cyber Security Technician role

Great attention to detail when you’re following instructions and producing reports.

A collaborative approach and the ability to explain complex ideas to others.

What you can bring to the Cyber Security Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- gaming and technology

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Cyber Security Technician

You could become a cyber security engineer who gets involved in the design, build and testing of secure networks or security products or systems.

Alternatively you might become a cyber risk analyst who focuses on risk assessment and giving advice on how to prevent cyberattacks. Another option is becoming a cyber defender and responder who monitors systems to prevent, detect and respond to security breaches.

How to become a Cyber Security Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification in Cyber Security.
  • An apprenticeship as a Cyber Security Technologist.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Working in cyber security involves a lot of psychology – understanding why people behave as they do in certain situations – as well as building systems and software that can protect individuals from risk and block cyber criminals from achieving their goals. You could be involved in developing an approach to tackling cyber threats or building cyber protection into new products and services.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Cyber Operations Manager
Cyber Risk Analyst
Intelligence Researcher
Security Analyst
Security Architect

How a Software Developer makes a difference

Computers, mobile phones, computer games, apps, websites, cars, and all sorts of appliances require software to make them operate and to provide a good user experience.

Producing the software involves understanding requirements and working out how to use existing code or produce new code to make different activities and functionality possible. You could be the technician who uses code to improve how things operate and how people do things at work, at home, and in their free time.

The type of work a Software Developer will do

  • Understanding software development objectives
  • Interpreting design specifications
  • Researching existing software solutions
  • Producing code that solves problems
  • Testing software solutions through user testing
  • Reporting progress
  • Writing up technical specifications
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the Software Developer role

An interest in software and where and how it’s used.

A fascination with technological innovations and the confidence to engage with new software.

The ability to think carefully about a subject or idea, ask questions and act on what you’ve learned.

What you can bring to the Software Developer role

The ability to define a problem, evaluate different responses and move forward with the best possible solution.

A knack for teaching others how to do something.

A responsible and thorough approach when reviewing work and carrying out checks.

What you can bring to the Software Developer role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- gaming and technology

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Software Developer

You might specialise in one industry, service or product range, or work for a consultancy where you develop software solutions to a range of problems.

With experience you could become a senior software developer, responsible for leading a team and projects. Or alternatively you could decide to be a freelance developer, working with different teams on diverse contracts.

How to become a Software Developer

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification in Computing or Software Development.
  • An apprenticeship as a Software Developer.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Software developers are the important minds behind computer programmes. Their skills help to differentiate products and services and give organisations a competitive advantage by making their activities faster, more reliable, easier to do, and, in some circumstances, more fun. The right software can drive up performance in all sorts of ways.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Application Developer
Mobile Application Developer
Software Engineer
Web Developer

How a Building Design Technician makes a difference

When you imagine a building being constructed, you probably think about its exterior and maybe the shapes of the rooms inside. But there is much more to a building than simply its bricks and mortar.

For a building to really come to life, it needs to be connected to resources and services people use, and to meet safety, security, efficiency, and environmental standards. You could be the technician who designs these resources, services, and standards into many kinds of buildings, giving people a high quality of life.

Useful skills
Attention to detail
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Problem solving
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

The type of work a Building Design Technician will do

  • Supporting the design of building services system
  • Making sure designs meet the relevant building and environmental standards
  • Capturing data and carrying out calculations to define the best design solution
  • Using data analysis and digital modelling software
  • Understanding the risks involved with different services and controlling the risks within your designs
  • Project management of your designs and proposals
  • Presenting your ideas and solutions to other people

What you can bring to the Building Design Technician role

An interest in architecture and design and creating great environments for people to live and work in.

A talent for producing technical diagrams and drawings.

The ability to absorb detailed information from complex documents and act on what you’ve learned.

What you can bring to the Building Design Technician role

A knack for using technology and creating detailed content on computers.

A thorough approach to your work, whether you’re creating designs or producing written reports.

The confidence to engage in debates and discussions, ask questions and put forward your ideas.

What you can bring to the Building Design Technician role

The skill to think through a problem from different angles before deciding on the best way forward.

This role could also be right for you if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- art, film, fashion and design

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a Building Design Technician

With experience you could become a design engineer, or a site manager with responsibility for overseeing design implementation.

Another option is working in design and construction management and leading a technical team. Alternatively, you could move into a head of facilities position and manage building operations.

How to become a Building Design Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job. But if you're interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification, such as a Higher National Certificate in Architectural Technology for England.
  • An apprenticeship as a Construction Design and Build Technician.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

As a building design technician you plan how heating, ventilation and cooling, electrical power, water, and drainage systems all operate in a building. You need to consider comfort and control, safety and security, efficiency and sustainability, and access, to make it easy for systems to be fixed and maintained.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Building Services Technician
Building Services Engineering Technician

How a CAD Technician makes a difference

Machinery, goods, components, and structures are all developed using computer-aided design (CAD).

CAD brings ideas to life, tests concepts and produces detailed drawings that direct how things need to be made.

There are different software packages for designing different types of product or structure. The accuracy of the drawings produced helps people to imagine what’s possible. You could be the technician who helps to make great ideas a reality.

The type of work a CAD Technician will do

  • Using 2D or 3D software to produce sketches, models and drawings
  • Checking that drawings meet quality and technical standards
  • Finding and fixing inaccuracies or mistakes
  • Communicating with engineers, designers and project managers
  • Reading and interpreting engineers’ drawings
  • Undertaking calculations to work out angles, weights and costs
  • Keeping accurate records of different versions of your design work
Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Critical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Technologically minded
Skills & attributes

What you can bring to the CAD Technician role

An interest in design.

Excellent listening and understanding skills.

The ability to think carefully about a subject or idea, ask questions and act on what you’ve learned.

What you can bring to the CAD Technician role

A natural tendency to think about a problem from different angles before deciding on the best way forward.

An enjoyment of collaborating with others.

Confidence with computers and an aptitude for learning how to use new software.

What you can bring to the CAD Technician role

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- art, film, fashion and design

- exploring problems and finding answers

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities for a CAD Technician

You could become a design manager leading a team or project, work as a freelance designer or, with further training, become a design or software engineer.

With experience you could also become an engineer, registering with the Engineering Council to get Engineering Technician status.

How to become a CAD Technician

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.

But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:

Options available after GCSEs:

More options available after that:

  • A Higher Technical Qualification such as a Higher National Certificate in Manufacturing Engineering for England.

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Building information modelling (BIM) is a growing field of work in the construction industry that you could get involved in. BIM doesn’t produce a single visual of a building, it produces detailed insights on how a building will be used and the resources it requires, at every stage from design through to construction and live operations. This analysis enables more control over the use of resources.

Other job titles...

This role can also be known by some other job titles including:

Design Technician
Structural Technician
BIM Technician
Digital Design Technician
Engineering Design Technician