How Much Does CAD Designer Make in 2025?
In 2025, CAD designers play an important role in turning creative ideas into real-world designs as industries focus on innovation and design. Their expertise is highly sought in fields like architecture, engineering, and product development.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment for CAD designers is expected to decline by 1% from 2023 to 2033. Despite this, the demand for drafters remains steady with around 16,900 job openings predicted each year, mostly due to the need to replace workers who retire or switch careers.
As per Salary.com, the average annual salary for CAD designers in 2025 is estimated at $67,507.77. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of CAD designer salaries, factors influencing pay, the best-paying locations, and tips to increase earnings.
What is the Average CAD Designer Salary?
The average annual salary for CAD designers in the United States is $67,507.77 in 2025, reflecting a 2.3% increase from the 2024 average.
2025 CAD Designer Average Salary: $67,507.77 per year ($32.46 per hour)
2024 CAD Designer Average Salary: $65,990 per year ($31.73 per hour)
In 2024, the average annual salary for a CAD designer is estimated at $65,990, which translates to approximately $31.73 per hour based on a 40-hour workweek. Hourly rates vary, with experienced CAD designers earning up to $35 per hour or more, depending on experience, location, and industry knowledge.
What is the Pay Range for a CAD Designer?
The salary range for CAD designers, as reported by Salary.com, typically falls between $53,572 and $79,554 per year ($26 to $38 per hour). The most recent CAD designer salaries are between $59,490 and $73,090 annually.
CAD Designer Salary Range: $59,490 to $73,090per year ($26 to $38 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $26 | $1,030 | $4,464 | $53,572 |
| 25th Percentile | $29 | $1,144 | $4,958 | $59,490 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $32 | $1,269 | $5,499 | $65,990 |
| 75th Percentile | $35 | $1,406 | $6,091 | $73,090 |
| 90th Percentile | $38 | $1,530 | $6,630 | $79,554 |
CAD Designer Salary Factors
As mentioned, various factors impact a CAD designer's earning potential, such as their level of experience, job location, and skillset required.
Years of Experience
The average yearly salary for a CAD designer depends on experience and education like creating drafts and technical drawings, typically starting at $65,112 for entry-level professionals and increasing to $67,921 for those with over 8 years of experience.
| Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level CAD Designer | <1 | $65,112 |
| Intermediate Level CAD Designer | 1-2 | $65,802 |
| Senior Level CAD Designer | 2-4 | $67,391 |
| Specialist Level CAD Designer | 5-8 | $67,709 |
| Expert Level CAD Designer | 8+ | $67,921 |
Place of Work
As reported by the BLS, workplace settings greatly impact CAD designer salaries. Current data showed that CAD designers working in construction earned up to 3.03% more than those employed in manufacturing.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Construction | $63,200 |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | $62,910 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | $62,280 |
| Manufacturing | $61,340 |
Skill Set
Certain skills can boost the earning potential of CAD designer. According to the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, professionals skilled in civil engineering can earn up to 5.61% more than their peers without this expertise.
For example, if Employee A has an annual salary of $60,485 and possesses civil or structural engineering skills, they could see an increase of 5.61%, amounting to an additional $3,393.21. This would raise their total annual salary to $63,878.21.
| Skill | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | 7.33% | 5.61% |
| Computer-Aided Design (CAD) | 59.67% | 5.06% |
| Bill of Materials | 7.09% | 4.71% |
| 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) | 68.26% | 3.63% |
| Design Engineering | 7.23% | 3.01% |
CAD Designer Salary by City and State
The location also plays a significant role in determining the earning potential of CAD designers. Analyzing salary trends and variations by state can help identify the most advantageous places to live and work.
Highest Paying States for CAD Designer
According to salary data, the District of Columbia provides the highest average annual salary for accounts payable specialists in the United States, amounting to $73,390.
- District of Columbia: $73,390 per year (or $35.28 per hour)
- California: $72,790 per year (or $35 per hour)
- New Jersey: $72,290 per year (or $34.75 per hour)
- Alaska: $71,890 per year (or $34.56 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $71,790 per year (or $34.51 per hour)
CAD Designer Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $71,890 |
| Alabama | $60,590 |
| Arkansas | $60,090 |
| Arizona | $64,290 |
| California | $72,790 |
| Colorado | $67,290 |
| Connecticut | $70,890 |
| District of Columbia | $73,390 |
| Delaware | $66,990 |
| Florida | $62,690 |
| Georgia | $63,790 |
| Hawaii | $68,990 |
| Iowa | $63,090 |
| Idaho | $61,590 |
| Illinois | $67,490 |
| Indiana | $63,990 |
| Kansas | $62,790 |
| Kentucky | $62,090 |
| Louisiana | $62,790 |
| Massachusetts | $71,790 |
| Maryland | $67,990 |
| Maine | $64,190 |
| Michigan | $65,090 |
| Minnesota | $67,490 |
| Missouri | $62,890 |
| Mississippi | $58,890 |
| Montana | $61,590 |
| North Carolina | $63,290 |
| North Dakota | $65,290 |
| Nebraska | $62,190 |
| New Hampshire | $67,090 |
| New Jersey | $72,290 |
| New Mexico | $60,790 |
| Nevada | $66,190 |
| New York | $70,290 |
| Ohio | $64,490 |
| Oklahoma | $60,990 |
| Oregon | $66,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,890 |
| Rhode Island | $68,890 |
| South Carolina | $62,290 |
| South Dakota | $59,290 |
| Tennessee | $61,090 |
| Texas | $64,590 |
| Utah | $62,790 |
| Virginia | $66,190 |
| Vermont | $64,690 |
| Washington | $71,090 |
| Wisconsin | $65,190 |
| West Virginia | $59,390 |
Highest Paying Cities for CAD Designer
Based on the Salary.com data, these individual cities are the top 5 highest-paying cities for CAD designers, with San Jose, California, taking the lead at $82,790 per year or $39.80 per hour:
- San Jose, California: $82,790 per year (or $39.80 per hour)
- San Francisco, California: $82,490 per year ($39.66 per hour)
- Oakland, California: $80,490 per year ($38.70 per hour)
- New York, New York: $77,090 per year ($37.06 per hour)
- Queens Village, New York: $76,490 per year ($36.77 per hour)
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a CAD designer
CAD designers are highly sought after in fields like architecture, mechanical engineering, and manufacturing, and transitioning to this career can lead to better salary prospects and career satisfaction. Here's how to make the switch:
- To excel as a CAD designer, focus on building skills in areas like CAD software mastery, drafting and design principles, and industry-specific knowledge for architecture, manufacturing, bill of materials, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) or engineering jobs like Civil Engineering and Design Engineering.
- Obtaining certifications like SolidWorks Certification or becoming a Certified Drafter (CD) can make you stand out to employers.
- Utilize your background in marketing to enhance your CAD career by presenting work effectively, understanding client needs, and positioning yourself as a versatile designer with strong branding and presentation skills.
- CAD salaries vary by location and industry, with higher earnings in cities like San Francisco, CA, or New York, NY, and fields such as construction, automotive, or aerospace engineering.
- Expand your professional network by joining industry groups like the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA).
- Develop a portfolio that highlights diverse design projects, before-and-after comparisons to demonstrate improvements, and client testimonials to showcase your skills and accomplishments.
- Research market salaries for CAD designers in your area and use this data to negotiate a competitive pay rate during job interviews.
Average National Salaries by Source
According to data from five major salary-reporting websites as of December 26, 2024, the national average salary for a computer aided design designer is $66,714.80 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$65,990/year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$69,170/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$74,441/year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$59,082/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$64,891/year
