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CAE Design Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAE Design Manager in the United States is $132,514 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $64.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $154,530
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,155 to $144,038
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $108,903
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAE Design Manager Salaries

A CAE Design 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects CAE Design Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAE Design 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:

  • 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 Managers 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 Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $146,720.
  • California: $146,163.
  • Massachusetts: $144,215.

Top Paying Cities for CAE Design Manager

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: $167,140
  • San Francisco: $165,310
  • Oakland: $161,826

What Skills Can Increase a CAE Design Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Written Communication (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 2.88% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 0.82% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
Skills Demand Percentage
Written Communication 11.11%
CAD 2.88%
Construction Management 0.82%
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 CAE Design Manager's salary.

  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • 3D Rendering: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • 3D Scanning: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interviewing $147,091
11%
3D Rendering $145,765
10%
3D Scanning $143,115
8%
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CAE Design Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAE Design Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $148,342. While startup companies pay approximate $125,494.

CAE Design Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $125,494
Growth Stage 51~500 $132,724
Established 501~5000 $143,250
Enterprise 5000+ $148,342

CAE Design Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAE Design Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, CAE Design Manager positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAE Design Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAE Design Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$165,642$80.025%
Financial Services$159,017$76.020%
Aerospace & Defense$152,391$73.015%
Healthcare$152,391$73.015%
Biotechnology$145,765$70.010%

How Education impacts an CAE Design Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAE Design Manager 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 CAE Design Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $133,664 and $143,905.

CAE Design Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAE Design Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 10.3%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 51.6%
Masters 19.4%
Doctorate 3.6%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a CAE Design 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 August 01, 2026
$120,155
Average $132,514/year
$144,038
$10,013
Average $11,043/month
$12,003
$2,311
Average $2,548/week
$2,770
$58
Average $64/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $144,038 $12,003 $2,770 $69
Average $132,514 $11,043 $2,548 $64
25th Percentile $120,155 $10,013 $2,311 $58

CAE Design Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

CAE Design Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a CAE Design Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAE Design Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $177,702 - a projected growth of 34% over your current level.

Most common benefits for CAE Design Manager

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

Common company salaries for CAE Design Manager

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

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FAQ about CAE Design Manager

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

A CAE Design 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 CAE Design Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAE Design Manager is $167,140.

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

The highest pay for CAE Design Manager is $154,530.

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

The lowest pay for CAE Design Manager is $108,903.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAE Design Manager?

Manages the computer-aided engineering (CAE) function to support and optimize the design engineering process for complex products, components, or structures. Collaborates with engineering teams to provide CAE design, analysis, and modeling support. Reviews and evaluates layouts and drawings to ensure clarity, completeness, and adherence to design standards and protocols. Researches and recommends CAE tools to facilitate benchmarking, concept design, prototype development, simulation, and testing protocols. Evaluates project results and metrics to develop and implement improvements to design engineering capabilities. Assists with high-level product, component, or structure design planning and scheduling. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline. 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.

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

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for CAE Design Manager roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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