As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Manager in the United States is $127,280 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $61.
However, a CAD Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
AI-Powered Talent
A CAD Manager'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 a CAD Manager'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 |
|---|---|---|
| CAD Drafter V | 7-10 years | $138,145 |
| CAD Supervisor | 10+ years | $93,844 |
| CAD Senior Supervisor | 10+ years | $112,007 |
| CAD Manager | 10+ years | $127,280 |
| CAD Senior Manager | 10+ years | $155,527 |
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 CAD Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Leadership | 3.54% |
| Digital Design | 2.48% |
| System Maintenance | 1.27% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Software Engineering
|
$140,008 |
10%
|
|
Goal Setting
|
$133,644 |
5%
|
|
Scheduling
|
$132,371 |
4%
|
|
Digital Design
|
$132,371 |
4%
|
|
Analysis
|
$131,098 |
3%
|
|
Innovation
|
$131,098 |
3%
|
Understanding how a CAD Manager'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 March 01, 2026For a CAD Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAD Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $155,527 - a projected growth of 22% over your current level.
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for CAD Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current CAD Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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.
A CAD Manager'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 Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAD Manager is $160,538.
The highest pay for CAD Manager is $149,957.
The lowest pay for CAD Manager is $105,102.
Manages a team of computer-aided design (CAD) drafters, designers, and/or technicians. Establishes departmental standards for software, techniques, and tools to prepare technical drawings. Utilizes CAD tools to facilitate benchmarking, concept design, prototype development, simulation, and testing protocols. Establishes deadlines, develops goals, and determines production standards for the department. Coordinates with engineers, designers, and/or CAD drafters to ensure stakeholder satisfaction with projects. Evaluates project results to design, develop, and implement guidelines and procedures to improve efficiencies. Recommends potential new uses for CAD within the organization. Uses knowledge of the field to keep the department's software, techniques, and tools up to date. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
