Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Auto CAD Designer I in Ohio is $64,501 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.
However, an Auto CAD Designer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
Smart Recruiting
Auto CAD Designer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $69,401 | $5,783 | $1,335 | $33 |
| Average | $64,501 | $5,375 | $1,240 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,601 | $4,883 | $1,127 | $28 |
KINGSLY COMPRESSION INC - Cambridge, OH
Adam Pearl - Cleveland, OH
Hazen and Sawyer - Columbus, OH
Hazen and Sawyer - Cincinnati, OH
An Auto CAD Designer I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Auto CAD Designer I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Auto CAD Designer I | 0-2 years | $64,430 |
| CAD Drafter, Experienced | 2-4 years | $73,356 |
| Computer Aided Design Drafter III | 4-7 years | $88,817 |
| CAD Designer IV | 7+ years | $114,782 |
| CAD Designer V | 7-10 years | $134,485 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Auto CAD Designer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Auto CAD Designer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,205. While startup companies pay approximate $61,084.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $61,084 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $64,603 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $69,727 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $72,205 |
For Auto CAD Designer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Auto CAD Designer positions in Biotechnology or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Auto CAD Designer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $77,401 | $37.0 | 20% |
| Business Services | $76,111 | $37.0 | 18% |
| Construction | $74,821 | $36.0 | 16% |
| Energy & Utilities | $73,531 | $35.0 | 14% |
| Healthcare | $72,241 | $35.0 | 12% |
Understanding how an Auto CAD Designer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $69,401 | $5,783 | $1,335 | $33 |
| Average | $64,501 | $5,375 | $1,240 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,601 | $4,883 | $1,127 | $28 |
For an Auto CAD Designer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAD Drafter, Experienced role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $73,400 - a projected growth of 14% over your current level.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Auto CAD Designer I job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Abbott Electric Inc.
Canton, OH
Abbott Electric Inc. | Canton, OH
Job Description. Job Description. Company Overview. Abbott Electric, Inc. is a leading electrical contracting & design/build firm dedicated to delivering h... more
5 Days Ago
Hazen and Sawyer
Cincinnati, OH
Hazen and Sawyer | Cincinnati, OH
Job Description. Job Description. Hazen and Sawyer is seeking Senior Principal CAD/BIM Structural Designer for our Raleigh, NC, Fairfax, VA or Cincinnati, ... more
3 Days Ago
Cyntergy
TULSA, OK
Cyntergy | TULSA, OK
Electrical Engineering Designer (Retail Facilities) Location: Tulsa, OK | Bentonville, AR | Hybrid | Remote Reports To: Director of Electrical Engineering ... more
3 Days Ago
Cyntergy
TULSA, OK
Cyntergy | TULSA, OK
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER LOCATION | Tulsa, OK REPORTS TO | Director of Architecture TEAM | Architecture POSITION SUMMARY At Cyntergy, you’ll be involved in a... more
11 Days Ago
Floor
TEMPE, AZ
Floor | TEMPE, AZ
Base Pay This role has a minimum base pay from $17.30 per hour with higher starting pay available based on experience. Purpose: Floor & Decor Sr. Designer ... more
3 Days Ago
True Spec Golf
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
True Spec Golf | SCOTTSDALE, AZ
Position: Graphic Designer Department: Marketing Reports To: Director of Marketing Operations Office Location: Scottsdale, AZ (Full Time, On-Site) Job Summ... more
3 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
