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CAD Support Technician I Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Support Technician I in the United States is $52,683 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,999
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,624 to $58,083
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,928
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAD Support Technician I Salaries

A CAD Support Technician 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.

How Experience Level Affects CAD Support Technician I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAD Support Technician 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 Support Technician I (0-1 years): $52,683
  • CAD Support Technician II (1-3 years): $57,984
  • CAD Support Technician III (3-5 years): $70,308
  • CAD Support Technician IV (5-7 years): $77,837
  • CAD Supervisor (7+ years): $93,856
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
CAD Support Technician I0-1 years$52,683
CAD Support Technician II1-3 years$57,984
CAD Support Technician III3-5 years$70,308
CAD Support Technician IV5-7 years$77,837
CAD Supervisor7+ years$93,856
View as Graph

How Do CAD Support Technician I 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 Support Technician Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $58,331.
  • California: $58,109.
  • Massachusetts: $57,335.

Top Paying Cities for CAD Support Technician Is

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: $66,449
  • San Francisco: $65,722
  • Oakland: $64,336

What Skills Can Increase a CAD Support Technician I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 10.6% 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.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.73% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
  • Computer Hardware (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Maintaining, configuring, and setting up computer hardware to increase business efficiency and staff productivity.
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 10.6%
Installation 2.73%
Computer Hardware 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 Support Technician I's salary.

  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Science $65,854
25%
Leadership $61,639
17%
Innovation $61,112
16%
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CAD Support Technician I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAD Support Technician I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $58,875. While startup companies pay approximate $49,803.

CAD Support Technician I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $49,803
Growth Stage 51~500 $52,671
Established 501~5000 $56,852
Enterprise 5000+ $58,875

CAD Support Technician I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAD Support Technician 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 Insurance and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, CAD Support Technician positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAD Support Technician I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAD Support Technician I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Insurance$63,220$30.020%
Software & Networking$59,005$28.012%
Biotechnology$57,951$28.010%
Financial Services$57,951$28.010%
Healthcare$57,951$28.010%

CAD Support Technician I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAD Support Technician 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 September 01, 2026
$48,624
Average $52,683/year
$58,083
$4,052
Average $4,390/month
$4,840
$935
Average $1,013/week
$1,117
$23
Average $25/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,083 $4,840 $1,117 $28
Average $52,683 $4,390 $1,013 $25
25th Percentile $48,624 $4,052 $935 $23

CAD Support Technician I Salary Growth & Career Path

CAD Support Technician I

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Advancement

For a CAD Support Technician I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAD Support Technician II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $57,984 - a projected growth of 10% over your current level.

Most common benefits for CAD Support Technician I

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

Common company salaries for CAD Support Technician I

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

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FAQ about CAD Support Technician I

1. Where can a CAD Support Technician I earn the most?

A CAD Support Technician 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 Support Technician I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAD Support Technician I is $66,449.

2. What is the highest pay for CAD Support Technician I?

The highest pay for CAD Support Technician I is $62,999.

3. What is the lowest pay for CAD Support Technician I?

The lowest pay for CAD Support Technician I is $44,928.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAD Support Technician I?

Provides computer-aided design (CAD) support. Creates preliminary drafting files from notes or sketches, assists engineers and designers with the completion of drawings, and executes basic CAD file modification. Communicates with engineers and designers to aid in the completion of projects. Helps transform initial rough product designs into working documents using CAD software. Maintains deadlines, goals, and production standards set by the department. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. Possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

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

The Insurance industry offers the highest average compensation for CAD Support Technician 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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