As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a CAE Designer I in the United States is $35, which translates to an annual salary of about $73,350.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A CAE Designer 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a CAE Designer 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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| CAE Designer I | 0-2 years | $73,350 |
| CAE Designer II | 2-4 years | $82,447 |
| CAE Designer III | 4-7 years | $113,671 |
| CAE Designer IV | 7+ years | $131,197 |
| CAE Designer V | 7-10 years | $149,539 |
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 CAE Designer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Presentation | 5.41% |
| Packaging | 2.03% |
| Building Codes | 1.24% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Solution Design
|
$83,619 |
14%
|
|
Civil Engineering
|
$79,218 |
8%
|
|
3D Modeling
|
$78,485 |
7%
|
|
Collaboration
|
$77,751 |
6%
|
|
Packaging
|
$77,018 |
5%
|
|
Project Design
|
$76,284 |
4%
|
CAE Designer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $82,041. While startup companies pay approximate $69,383.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $69,383 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $73,383 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $79,227 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $82,041 |
For CAE Designer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 97% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, CAE Designer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAE Designer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | $95,355 | $46.0 | 30% |
| Financial Services | $91,688 | $44.0 | 25% |
| Software & Networking | $89,487 | $43.0 | 22% |
| Biotechnology | $88,020 | $42.0 | 20% |
| Internet | $86,553 | $42.0 | 18% |
Understanding how a CAE Designer 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 July 01, 2026Salaries for a CAE Designer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,220 in 2023 to around $65,061 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of CAE Designer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $65,220 |
| 2024 | $65,305 |
| 2025 | $65,061 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for CAE Designer I roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Utilizes computer-aided engineering (CAE) software tools to support and optimize the design engineering process for complex products, components, or structures. Creates prototypes, detailed layouts, and models to support the conceptual design process. Conducts research and analysis to understand requirements and specifications, identify optimal materials, and assess manufacturability. Performs computer simulations to find flaws or design inefficiencies, model various load and stress scenarios, and implement design improvements. Collects and assembles data and maintains design documentation. Employs CAE tools to enable benchmarking, concept design, prototype development, simulation, and testing protocols. Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Presentation: Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
Packaging: Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
Building Codes: A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority. Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors and regulators but are also used for various purposes by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and materials, insurance companies, facility managers, tenants, and others. Codes regulate the design and construction of structures where adopted into law.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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