Salary AI Book a Demo

CAE Design Director Salary in the United States

How much does a CAE Design Director make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAE Design Director in the United States is $219,335 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $105.

However, a CAE Design Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $253,943
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $200,500 to $237,450
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $183,352
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAE Design Director Salaries

A CAE Design Director'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 CAE Design Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAE Design Director'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:

  • CAE Design Supervisor I (12+ years): $93,200
  • CAE Design Supervisor II (12+ years): $119,288
  • CAE Design Manager (12+ years): $132,514
  • CAE Design Senior Manager (12+ years): $177,702
  • CAE Design Director (12+ years): $219,335
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
CAE Design Supervisor I12+ years$93,200
CAE Design Supervisor II12+ years$119,288
CAE Design Manager12+ years$132,514
CAE Design Senior Manager12+ years$177,702
CAE Design Director12+ years$219,335
View as Graph

How Do CAE Design Directors 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 CAE Design Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $242,848.
  • California: $241,927.
  • Massachusetts: $238,702.

Top Paying Cities for CAE Design Director

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: $276,647
  • San Francisco: $273,618
  • Oakland: $267,852

CAE Design Director Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAE Design Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $245,533. While startup companies pay approximate $207,715.

CAE Design Director Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $207,715
Growth Stage 51~500 $219,683
Established 501~5000 $237,106
Enterprise 5000+ $245,533

CAE Design Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAE Design Director 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 Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, CAE Design Director positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAE Design Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAE Design Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$263,202$127.020%
Biotechnology$263,202$127.020%
Business Services$263,202$127.020%
Chemicals$263,202$127.020%
Construction$263,202$127.020%

CAE Design Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAE Design Director'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
$200,500
Average $219,335/year
$237,450
$16,708
Average $18,278/month
$19,788
$3,856
Average $4,218/week
$4,566
$96
Average $105/hour
$114
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $237,450 $19,788 $4,566 $114
Average $219,335 $18,278 $4,218 $105
25th Percentile $200,500 $16,708 $3,856 $96

Most common benefits for CAE Design Director

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

Common company salaries for CAE Design Director

Here are companies hiring for CAE Design Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next CAE Design Director Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current CAE Design Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about CAE Design Director

1. Where can a CAE Design Director earn the most?

A CAE Design Director'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 CAE Design Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAE Design Director is $276,647.

2. What is the highest pay for CAE Design Director?

The highest pay for CAE Design Director is $253,943.

3. What is the lowest pay for CAE Design Director?

The lowest pay for CAE Design Director is $183,352.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAE Design Director?

Directs and oversees the computer-aided engineering (CAE) function to support and optimize the design engineering process for complex products, components, or structures. Provides expertise and technical leadership for benchmarking, concept design, prototype development, simulation, and testing protocols optimizing CAE design and analysis techniques and tools. Develops and continuously improves CAE methodology, including guidelines and standards, to increase design process efficiency. Provides CAE oversight to support high-level product, component, or structure design planning and scheduling. Researches and develops new technologies or processes to improve design engineering capabilities. Evaluates project design costs to ensure adherence to allocated budgets and objectives. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for CAE Design Director?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for CAE Design Director 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job