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CAD Drafter III Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Drafter III in the United States is $91,216 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,844
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,897 to $98,873
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,323
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAD Drafter III Salaries

A CAD Drafter III'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 III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAD Drafter III'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): $117,877
  • CAD Drafter V (7-10 years): $138,113
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$117,877
CAD Drafter V7-10 years$138,113
View as Graph

How Do CAD Drafter III 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 IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $100,994.
  • California: $100,611.
  • Massachusetts: $99,270.

Top Paying Cities for CAD Drafter IIIs

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: $115,051
  • San Francisco: $113,791
  • Oakland: $111,393

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.62% 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 2.2% 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 3.62%
Pneumatics 2.2%
CAD Software 1.38%
See More Skills

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 III's salary.

  • Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Products and Services $98,513
8%
Innovation $96,689
6%
Analysis $95,777
5%
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CAD Drafter III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAD Drafter III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $101,938. While startup companies pay approximate $86,229.

CAD Drafter III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $86,229
Growth Stage 51~500 $91,196
Established 501~5000 $98,434
Enterprise 5000+ $101,938

CAD Drafter III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAD Drafter III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, CAD Drafter positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAD Drafter III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAD Drafter III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Transportation$118,581$57.030%
Energy & Utilities$100,338$48.010%
Financial Services$100,338$48.010%
Software & Networking$98,513$47.08%
Biotechnology$95,777$46.05%

How Education impacts a CAD Drafter III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAD Drafter III 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 III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $94,080 and $99,457.

CAD Drafter III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAD Drafter III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 0.0%
Associates 100.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a CAD Drafter III'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 September 01, 2026
$82,897
Average $91,216/year
$98,873
$6,908
Average $7,601/month
$8,239
$1,594
Average $1,754/week
$1,901
$40
Average $44/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $98,873 $8,239 $1,901 $48
Average $91,216 $7,601 $1,754 $44
25th Percentile $82,897 $6,908 $1,594 $40

CAD Drafter III Salary Growth & Career Path

CAD Drafter III

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Advancement

For a CAD Drafter III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAD Drafter IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $117,877 - a projected growth of 29% over your current level.

Most common benefits for CAD Drafter III

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

Common company salaries for CAD Drafter III

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

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FAQ about CAD Drafter III

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

A CAD Drafter III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAD Drafter III is $115,051.

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

The highest pay for CAD Drafter III is $105,844.

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

The lowest pay for CAD Drafter III is $75,323.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAD Drafter III?

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 generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for CAD Drafter III roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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