What are the main factors that influence a CAD Drafter's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A CAD Drafter's salary?

A CAD Drafter's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $66,984, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $76,262, a CAD Drafter (4-7 years)earns $92,338, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $119,349, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $139,839,

What are the highest paying states for a CAD Drafter?

CAD Drafter salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for CAD Drafter roles are District of Columbia $104,158, California $103,763, Massachusetts $102,380. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of CAD Drafter roles make?

Salaries for CAD Drafter level roles vary by specialization: CAD Drafter, Expert: $138,140; CAD Drafter V: $138,140; CAD Drafter, Specialist: $117,900; CAD Drafter IV: $117,899; CAD Drafter, Senior: $91,290.

How do different companies affect a CAD Drafter's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for CAD Drafter roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

CAD Drafter Salary in the United States

How much does a CAD Drafter make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Drafter in the United States is $94,074 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $109,992
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $86,181 to $102,406
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $78,996

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered Talent

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

CAD Drafter Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$102,406	$8,534	$1,969	$49
Average	$94,074	$7,839	$1,809	$45
25th Percentile	$86,181	$7,182	$1,657	$41

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out CAD Drafter Job Openings in the United States

CAD Drafter

Technifab, Inc. - Avon, OH

CAD Drafter

Magnum Piering, Inc. - Cincinnati, OH

CAD Drafter

Bi-Con Services - Cambridge, OH

CAD Drafter

Basic Systems, Inc. - Cambridge, OH

Search More CAD Drafter Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence CAD Drafter Salaries

A CAD Drafter'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 CAD Drafter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAD Drafter'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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $66,984
Early Career (1-2 years): $76,262
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,338
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $119,349
Expert (over 8 years): $139,839

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level CAD Drafter	$66,984
CAD Draft... Level CAD Drafter	$76,262
CAD Draft... Level CAD Drafter	$92,338
CAD Draft... Level CAD Drafter	$119,349
CAD Draft... Level CAD Drafter	$139,839

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do CAD Drafter 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 Drafters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $104,158.
California: $103,763.
Massachusetts: $102,380.

District of Columbia $104,158 California $103,763 Massachusetts $102,380 Washington $102,004 New Jersey $101,966 Alaska $101,835 Connecticut $100,537 New York $100,010

Hawaii $98,326 Rhode Island $97,536 Maryland $96,999 Minnesota $96,266 Colorado $95,983 Illinois $95,889 Oregon $95,532 Delaware $95,268

New Hampshire $95,103 Virginia $94,732 Pennsylvania $93,650 Nevada $93,105 North Dakota $92,926 Michigan $92,644 Wisconsin $92,540 Vermont $92,333

Texas $91,759 Maine $91,722 Arizona $91,665 Ohio $91,600 Georgia $90,734 Indiana $90,301 Wyoming $90,217 Utah $90,085

Iowa $90,029 Kansas $89,577 Louisiana $89,445 North Carolina $89,398 Missouri $89,379 Florida $89,013 Montana $88,815 Nebraska $88,627

Kentucky $88,523 South Carolina $88,147 Tennessee $87,912 Idaho $87,818 New Mexico $87,131 Oklahoma $86,981 Alabama $86,426 South Dakota $85,494

Arkansas $84,986 West Virginia $84,713 Mississippi $83,895

Top Paying Cities for CAD Drafters

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: $118,655
San Francisco: $117,489
Oakland: $114,883

San Jose, CA $118,655

San Francisco, CA $117,489

Oakland, CA $114,883

New York, NY $109,022

Queens Village, NY $108,316

Paramus, NJ $107,564

Passaic, NJ $107,470

Bergenfield, NJ $107,376

Stamford, CT $107,235

Huntington, NY $107,141

Newark, NJ $106,529

Bridgeport, CT $106,341

New Brunswick, NJ $106,030

Vallejo, CA $105,833

Middlesex, NJ $105,776

Somerset, NJ $105,692

Petaluma, CA $105,475

Santa Cruz, CA $105,109

Boston, MA $104,920

Monterey, CA $104,450

Fairbanks, AK $104,384

Los Angeles, CA $104,205

Washington, DC $104,158

Seattle, WA $103,989

Santa Rosa, CA $103,970

Juneau, AK $103,697

Orange, CA $103,387

Anchorage, AK $103,218

Anaheim, CA $103,152

Santa Ana, CA $103,011

Nassau, NY $102,954

Long Beach, CA $102,917

Danbury, CT $102,888

Santa Maria, CA $102,569

Everett, WA $102,550

Bremerton, WA $102,089

Trenton, NJ $101,910

Sacramento, CA $101,872

San Diego, CA $101,825

Brockton, MA $101,788

Tacoma, WA $101,750

Santa Barbara, CA $101,618

Lowell, MA $101,242

New Suffolk, NY $101,204

Nashua, NH $101,092

Lompoc, CA $100,941

Ventura, CA $100,847

Stockton, CA $100,819

New Haven, CT $100,631

Atlantic City, NJ $100,386

Hartford, CT $100,179

Modesto, CA $100,132

Poughkeepsie, NY $99,925

New Britain, CT $99,878

Olympia, WA $99,746

Kennewick, WA $99,746

New London, CT $99,728

Norwich, CT $99,699

Lawrence, MA $99,652

Bakersfield, CA $99,389

Riverside, CA $99,257

New Bedford, MA $99,257

Richland, WA $99,163

Portsmouth, NH $99,088

Vineland, NJ $99,069

San Bernardino, CA $98,994

Boulder, CO $98,730

Worcester, MA $98,655

Portland, OR $98,570

Saint Paul, MN $98,458

Minneapolis, MN $98,458

Philadelphia, PA $98,326

Honolulu, HI $97,827

Springfield, MA $97,498

Providence, RI $97,489

Chicago, IL $97,216

Bellingham, WA $97,103

Baltimore, MD $96,999

Chico, CA $96,764

Wilmington, DE $96,604

Pittsfield, MA $96,510

Manchester, NH $96,331

Spokane, WA $95,918

Denver, CO $95,908

Albany, NY $95,466

Troy, NY $95,428

Schenectady, NY $95,231

Burlington, VT $95,024

Portland, ME $94,695

Salem, OR $94,619

Yakima, WA $94,601

Ann Arbor, MI $94,572

Rochester, MN $94,309

Fresno, CA $94,262

Reno, NV $94,262

Milwaukee, WI $94,177

Detroit, MI $94,083

Allentown, PA $94,055

Carson City, NV $94,045

Houston, TX $93,904

Colorado Springs, CO $93,895

Syracuse, NY $93,848

Eugene, OR $93,669

Bismarck, ND $93,556

Gary, IN $93,556

Galveston, TX $93,556

Springfield, OR $93,481

Medford, OR $93,255

Fort Collins, CO $93,218

Austin, TX $93,142

Mesa, AZ $92,945

Phoenix, AZ $92,926

Dallas, TX $92,898

Reading, PA $92,841

Saint Cloud, MN $92,804

Concord, NH $92,719

Madison, WI $92,681

Utica, NY $92,427

Raleigh, NC $92,352

Las Vegas, NV $92,343

Rochester, NY $92,277

Des Moines, IA $92,267

Atlanta, GA $92,117

Battle Creek, MI $92,089

Salt Lake City, UT $92,061

Lancaster, PA $91,919

Champaign, IL $91,901

Harrisburg, PA $91,788

Durham, NC $91,703

Kansas City, MO $91,694

Kansas City, KS $91,675

Fort Worth, TX $91,665

Boca Raton, FL $91,628

Cleveland, OH $91,618

Columbus, OH $91,600

Pittsburgh, PA $91,590

Richmond, VA $91,553

Indianapolis, IN $91,534

Cincinnati, OH $91,411

Petersburg, VA $91,270

Billings, MT $91,063

Lansing, MI $91,063

Huntsville, AL $91,063

Lebanon, PA $91,054

Dayton, OH $91,045

Pueblo, CO $91,045

Appleton, WI $91,016

Buffalo, NY $90,979

Racine, WI $90,932

Charlotte, NC $90,922

Saint Louis, MO $90,894

Springfield, IL $90,856

Elkhart, IN $90,838

York, PA $90,838

Gastonia, NC $90,828

Benton Harbor, MI $90,828

Beaumont, TX $90,772

Lorain, OH $90,753

Toledo, OH $90,715

Binghamton, NY $90,668

Rock Hill, SC $90,659

Rockford, IL $90,612

Fargo, ND $90,565

Elyria, OH $90,565

Flagstaff, AZ $90,499

Fort Lauderdale, FL $90,442

Miami, FL $90,386

Duluth, MN $90,235

Bangor, ME $90,113

Cedar Rapids, IA $90,010

Louisville, KY $89,963

Grand Rapids, MI $89,944

Hialeah, FL $89,934

Casper, WY $89,803

Scranton, PA $89,690

New Orleans, LA $89,662

Virginia Beach, VA $89,652

Akron, OH $89,605

Peoria, IL $89,483

Sarasota, FL $89,464

Green Bay, WI $89,398

Baton Rouge, LA $89,351

Charleston, SC $89,332

Nashville, TN $89,304

Jamestown, NY $89,285

Davenport, IA $89,285

Tucson, AZ $89,238

Cheyenne, WY $89,210

Saint Petersburg, FL $89,182

Tampa, FL $89,163

Omaha, NE $89,144

Port Arthur, TX $89,107

Evansville, IN $89,107

Bradenton, FL $89,069

Santa Fe, NM $88,900

Orlando, FL $88,806

Clearwater, FL $88,702

Canton, OH $88,505

La Crosse, WI $88,505

Grand Forks, ND $88,476

Albuquerque, NM $88,448

Tulsa, OK $88,448

Newport News, VA $88,439

High Point, NC $88,410

Ogden, UT $88,373

Corpus Christi, TX $88,298

Laramie, WY $88,241

Norfolk, VA $88,241

Rock Island, IL $88,185

Saginaw, MI $88,166

Jacksonville, FL $88,156

Salisbury, NC $88,138

Memphis, TN $88,119

Moline, IL $88,072

Fort Myers, FL $88,044

Waterloo, IA $87,921

Spartanburg, SC $87,827

Lincoln, NE $87,780

Fort Wayne, IN $87,761

Birmingham, AL $87,658

Cedar Falls, IA $87,639

Provo, UT $87,630

Springfield, OH $87,620

San Antonio, TX $87,601

Greensboro, NC $87,564

South Bend, IN $87,554

Winston Salem, NC $87,545

Boise, ID $87,517

Savannah, GA $87,451

Muskegon, MI $87,282

Lima, OH $87,169

Lake Charles, LA $87,131

Anderson, IN $87,112

Lexington, KY $87,084

Augusta, GA $87,056

Greenville, SC $87,056

Wichita, KS $86,971

Tuscaloosa, AL $86,971

Columbia, SC $86,886

Bloomington, IN $86,651

Roanoke, VA $86,595

Asheville, NC $86,473

Knoxville, TN $86,313

Shreveport, LA $86,303

Wilmington, NC $86,181

Frankfort, KY $86,002

Oklahoma City, OK $85,936

Chillicothe, OH $85,899

Longview, TX $85,889

Topeka, KS $85,861

Mobile, AL $85,720

Terre Haute, IN $85,682

Erie, PA $85,673

Altoona, PA $85,626

Melbourne, FL $85,598

Amarillo, TX $85,560

Killeen, TX $85,532

Fayetteville, AR $85,457

Sioux Falls, SD $85,391

Chattanooga, TN $85,334

Idaho Falls, ID $85,325

Gainesville, FL $85,127

Portsmouth, OH $85,080

Little Rock, AR $85,061

Lynchburg, VA $85,061

Lafayette, LA $85,024

Youngstown, OH $85,024

Temple, TX $84,986

Daytona Beach, FL $84,967

Clarksville, TN $84,958

Pensacola, FL $84,949

Hopkinsville, KY $84,666

Charleston, WV $84,657

Florence, SC $84,610

Sioux City, IA $84,553

Macon, GA $84,281

Tallahassee, FL $84,271

Fayetteville, NC $84,252

Waco, TX $84,234

Wichita Falls, TX $84,234

Pine Bluff, AR $84,196

Vincennes, IN $84,017

Lubbock, TX $83,980

Great Falls, MT $83,923

Alamogordo, NM $83,914

Abilene, TX $83,838

Rapid City, SD $83,716

Monroe, LA $83,716

Albany, GA $83,660

Huntington, WV $83,650

Jackson, MS $83,641

Greenville, MS $83,632

Parkersburg, WV $83,537

Montgomery, AL $83,519

Johnstown, PA $83,500

Springfield, MO $83,425

Biloxi, MS $83,378

Sumter, SC $83,180

Columbus, GA $83,171

Twin Falls, ID $83,114

Pascagoula, MS $82,992

Kingsport, TN $82,747

Gulfport, MS $82,719

Alexandria, LA $82,409

Fort Smith, AR $82,173

El Paso, TX $81,919

Helena, MT $81,797

Las Cruces, NM $81,496

Harlingen, TX $81,233

Pocatello, ID $81,148

Florence, AL $81,120

Brownsville, TX $81,101

Dothan, AL $80,950

Mcallen, TX $80,903

Columbus, MS $80,207

Altus, OK $79,774

Lawton, OK $79,596

Pierre, SD $79,257

What Skills Can Increase a CAD Drafter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.62% 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.
Pneumatics (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Pneumatics (pronounced new-MATT-ix) is an aspect of physics and engineering that is concerned with using the energy in compressed gas to make something move or work.
CAD Software (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	3.62%
Pneumatics	2.2%
CAD Software	1.38%

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 Drafter's salary.

Products and Services: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Products and Services	$101,600	8%
Innovation	$99,718	6%
Analysis	$98,777	5%
Leadership	$98,777	5%
Commitment	$97,837	4%
Collaboration	$97,837	4%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a CAD Drafter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAD Drafters enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a CAD Drafter with a No Diploma is between $92,048 and $97,709).

CAD Drafter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAD Drafter

No Diploma 100.0%

High School 0.0%

Associates 100.0%

Bachelors 0.0%

Masters 0.0%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	100.0%
High School	0.0%
Associates	100.0%
Bachelors	0.0%
Masters	0.0%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

CAD Drafter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAD Drafter'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 April 01, 2026

$86,181

Average $94,074/year

$102,406

$7,182

Average $7,839/month

$8,534

$1,657

Average $1,809/week

$1,969

$41

Average $45/hour

$49

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$102,406	$8,534	$1,969	$49
Average	$94,074	$7,839	$1,809	$45
25th Percentile	$86,181	$7,182	$1,657	$41

Salaries of jobs related to CAD Drafter

Salary Trends for CAD Drafter

Salaries for a CAD Drafter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $100,455 in 2023 to around $98,124 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of CAD Drafter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of CAD Drafter Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$100,455

2024

$99,344

2025

$98,124

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$100,455
2024	$99,344
2025	$98,124
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for CAD Drafter

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next CAD Drafter Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

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