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CAD Drafter I Salary in the United States

How much does a CAD Drafter I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Drafter I in the United States is $66,170 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a CAD Drafter I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,839
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,105 to $71,231
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,583
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAD Drafter I Salaries

A CAD Drafter 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects CAD Drafter I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAD Drafter 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:

  • CAD Drafter I (0-2 years): $66,170
  • CAD Drafter II (2-4 years): $75,337
  • CAD Drafter III (4-7 years): $91,216
  • CAD Drafter IV (7+ years): $117,882
  • CAD Drafter V (7-10 years): $138,118
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
CAD Drafter I0-2 years$66,170
CAD Drafter II2-4 years$75,337
CAD Drafter III4-7 years$91,216
CAD Drafter IV7+ years$117,882
CAD Drafter V7-10 years$138,118
View as Graph

How Do CAD Drafter Is Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 CAD Drafter Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,263.
  • California: $72,986.
  • Massachusetts: $72,013.

Top Paying Cities for CAD Drafter I

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:

  • San Jose: $83,460
  • San Francisco: $82,546
  • Oakland: $80,807

What Skills Can Increase a CAD Drafter I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.6% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Pneumatics (Mentioned in 2.17% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
  • CAD Software (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 3.6%
Pneumatics 2.17%
CAD Software 1.38%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a CAD Drafter I's salary.

  • Ethernet: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Ethernet $76,096
15%
Products and Services $70,802
7%
Presentation $70,140
6%
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CAD Drafter I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAD Drafter I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $74,073. While startup companies pay approximate $62,664.

CAD Drafter I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $62,664
Growth Stage 51~500 $66,275
Established 501~5000 $71,531
Enterprise 5000+ $74,073

CAD Drafter I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAD Drafter 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, CAD Drafter positions in Biotechnology or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAD Drafter I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAD Drafter I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$79,404$38.020%
Business Services$78,081$38.018%
Construction$76,757$37.016%
Energy & Utilities$75,434$36.014%
Healthcare$74,110$36.012%

How Education impacts an CAD Drafter I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAD Drafter I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an CAD Drafter I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $62,716 and $66,332.

CAD Drafter I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAD Drafter I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 24.3%
Associates 51.7%
Bachelors 21.3%
Masters 1.7%
Doctorate 0.2%
View as Graph

CAD Drafter I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAD Drafter 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$60,105
Average $66,170/year
$71,231
$5,009
Average $5,514/month
$5,936
$1,156
Average $1,273/week
$1,370
$29
Average $32/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,231 $5,936 $1,370 $34
Average $66,170 $5,514 $1,273 $32
25th Percentile $60,105 $5,009 $1,156 $29

CAD Drafter I Salary Growth & Career Path

CAD Drafter I

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Advancement

For a CAD Drafter I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAD Drafter II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $75,337 - a projected growth of 14% over your current level.

Most common benefits for CAD Drafter I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for CAD Drafter I

Here are companies hiring for CAD Drafter I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about CAD Drafter I

1. Where can a CAD Drafter I earn the most?

A CAD Drafter I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a CAD Drafter I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAD Drafter I is $83,460.

2. What is the highest pay for CAD Drafter I?

The highest pay for CAD Drafter I is $75,839.

3. What is the lowest pay for CAD Drafter I?

The lowest pay for CAD Drafter I is $54,583.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAD Drafter I?

Utilizes computer-aided design (CAD) software and other techniques, standards, and tools to prepare technical drawings. Prepares computer-aided design (CAD) drafts, drawings, and schematics derived from a variety of specifications, layouts, blueprints, and sketches. Maintains deadlines, goals, and production standards set by the department. Coordinates and consults with engineers or designers to complete projects. Transforms initial rough product designs into working documents using CAD software. Collaborates with design originators to resolve discrepancies between original drawings and final CAD designs. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for CAD Drafter I?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for CAD Drafter I roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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