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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JNJu39I890qN/Z7zJ6E98txCAH7E0X9FzSPyUdnKJUZLEst3z1+PBvWoXZAZcN5v
 TMcIuaEfwLeylgj5C4+MPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001205024-04-000004.txt : 20040525
<SEC-HEADER>0001205024-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040525162042
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001205024-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040519
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CDI CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018396
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				232394430
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155692200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMPREHEMSIVE DESINGNERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENGLARIK CECILIA J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205024

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05519
		FILM NUMBER:		04830144

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		215-569-2200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018396</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CDI CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205024</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VENGLARIK CECILIA J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1717 ARCH STREET, 35TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103-2768</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President-HR</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Purchase Plan Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>320</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Purchase Plan Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-03-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3292</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Purchase Plan (SPP) units convert into shares of Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person acquired these additional SPP units in connection with the $.09 per share dividend paid on CDI Corp. Common Stock on May 19, 2004.  The number of additional units was calculated using the opening price of CDI Corp. Common Stock on May 19, 2004, which was $30.60 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cecilia J. Venglarik</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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