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CAE Designer II Salary in the United States

How much does a CAE Designer II make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAE Designer II in the United States is $82,445 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $93,931
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,740 to $88,457
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,815
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAE Designer II Salaries

A CAE Designer II'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 Designer II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAE Designer II'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 Designer I (0-2 years): $73,348
  • CAE Designer II (2-4 years): $82,445
  • CAE Designer III (4-7 years): $113,677
  • CAE Designer IV (7+ years): $131,200
  • CAE Designer V (7-10 years): $149,542
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
CAE Designer I0-2 years$73,348
CAE Designer II2-4 years$82,445
CAE Designer III4-7 years$113,677
CAE Designer IV7+ years$131,200
CAE Designer V7-10 years$149,542
View as Graph

How Do CAE Designer IIs 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 Designer IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $91,283.
  • California: $90,937.
  • Massachusetts: $89,725.

Top Paying Cities for CAE Designer II

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: $103,988
  • San Francisco: $102,849
  • Oakland: $100,682

What Skills Can Increase a CAE Designer II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 7.77% Job Postings): 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.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Space Planning (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Analyzing, organizing, and building interior design layouts to maximize available space in accordance with client's specifications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 7.77%
Microsoft Office 2.33%
Space Planning 1.48%
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 Designer II's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $87,392
6%
Leadership $87,392
6%
Verbal Communication $87,392
6%
Get Latest Data

CAE Designer II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

CAE Designer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $92,292. While startup companies pay approximate $78,077.

CAE Designer II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $78,077
Growth Stage 51~500 $82,576
Established 501~5000 $89,125
Enterprise 5000+ $92,292

CAE Designer II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAE Designer II 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 Energy & Utilities and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, CAE Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAE Designer II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAE Designer II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$103,056$50.025%
Aerospace & Defense$98,934$48.020%
Pharmaceuticals$98,934$48.020%
Financial Services$94,812$46.015%
Insurance$94,812$46.015%

CAE Designer II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAE Designer II'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
$73,740
Average $82,445/year
$88,457
$6,145
Average $6,870/month
$7,371
$1,418
Average $1,585/week
$1,701
$35
Average $40/hour
$43
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $88,457 $7,371 $1,701 $43
Average $82,445 $6,870 $1,585 $40
25th Percentile $73,740 $6,145 $1,418 $35

CAE Designer II Salary Growth & Career Path

CAE Designer II

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Advancement

For a CAE Designer II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CAE Designer III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $113,677 - a projected growth of 38% over your current level.

Most common benefits for CAE Designer II

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

Common company salaries for CAE Designer II

Here are companies hiring for CAE Designer II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about CAE Designer II

1. Where can a CAE Designer II earn the most?

A CAE Designer II'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 Designer II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CAE Designer II is $103,988.

2. What is the highest pay for CAE Designer II?

The highest pay for CAE Designer II is $93,931.

3. What is the lowest pay for CAE Designer II?

The lowest pay for CAE Designer II is $65,815.

4. What are the responsibilities of CAE Designer II?

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. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for CAE Designer II?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for CAE Designer II 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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