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

A CAD Draftsman's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $65,733, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $74,840, a CAD Draftsman (4-7 years)earns $90,614, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $117,104, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $137,206,

What are the highest paying states for a CAD Draftsman?

CAD Draftsman salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for CAD Draftsman roles are District of Columbia $100,956, California $100,573, Massachusetts $99,233. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of CAD Draftsman roles make?

Salaries for CAD Draftsman level roles vary by specialization: Senior Draftsman: $94,532; Design Draftsman: $93,467; Revit Draftsman: $89,612; Draftsman: $89,401; Engineering Draftsman: $89,164.

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

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for CAD Draftsman 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 Draftsman Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAD Draftsman in the United States is $91,182 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,932
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,090 to $98,903
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,723

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CAD Draftsman Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$98,903	$8,242	$1,902	$48
Average	$91,182	$7,598	$1,753	$44
25th Percentile	$83,090	$6,924	$1,598	$40

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Key Factors That Influence CAD Draftsman Salaries

A CAD Draftsman'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 Draftsman Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAD Draftsman'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): $65,733
Early Career (1-2 years): $74,840
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,614
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,104
Expert (over 8 years): $137,206

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level CAD Draftsman	$65,733
CAD Draft... Level CAD Draftsman	$74,840
CAD Draft... Level CAD Draftsman	$90,614
CAD Draft... Level CAD Draftsman	$117,104
CAD Draft... Level CAD Draftsman	$137,206

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $100,956.
California: $100,573.
Massachusetts: $99,233.

District of Columbia $100,956 California $100,573 Massachusetts $99,233 Washington $98,868 New Jersey $98,832 Alaska $98,704 Connecticut $97,446 New York $96,935

Hawaii $95,303 Rhode Island $94,537 Maryland $94,017 Minnesota $93,306 Colorado $93,033 Illinois $92,942 Oregon $92,595 Delaware $92,340

New Hampshire $92,179 Virginia $91,820 Pennsylvania $90,771 Nevada $90,243 North Dakota $90,069 Michigan $89,796 Wisconsin $89,695 Vermont $89,495

Texas $88,939 Maine $88,902 Arizona $88,847 Ohio $88,784 Georgia $87,945 Indiana $87,525 Wyoming $87,443 Utah $87,316

Iowa $87,261 Kansas $86,823 Louisiana $86,696 North Carolina $86,650 Missouri $86,632 Florida $86,276 Montana $86,085 Nebraska $85,902

Kentucky $85,802 South Carolina $85,437 Tennessee $85,209 Idaho $85,118 New Mexico $84,452 Oklahoma $84,307 Alabama $83,769 South Dakota $82,866

Arkansas $82,374 West Virginia $82,109 Mississippi $81,316

Top Paying Cities for CAD Draftsmans

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: $115,007
San Francisco: $113,748
Oakland: $111,351

San Jose, CA $115,007

San Francisco, CA $113,748

Oakland, CA $111,351

New York, NY $104,986

Paramus, NJ $103,709

Queens Village, NY $103,705

Passaic, NJ $103,618

Bergenfield, NJ $103,610

Stamford, CT $103,409

Huntington, NY $103,372

Newark, NJ $102,698

Bridgeport, CT $102,506

Vallejo, CA $102,324

New Brunswick, NJ $102,288

Petaluma, CA $102,233

Middlesex, NJ $102,060

Somerset, NJ $101,996

Santa Cruz, CA $101,877

Boston, MA $101,321

Monterey, CA $101,001

Seattle, WA $100,792

Santa Rosa, CA $100,774

Los Angeles, CA $100,747

Juneau, AK $100,510

Washington, DC $100,409

Orange, CA $100,085

Santa Ana, CA $99,844

Long Beach, CA $99,753

Anaheim, CA $99,735

Anchorage, AK $99,689

Santa Maria, CA $99,415

Everett, WA $99,397

Danbury, CT $99,076

Bremerton, WA $98,950

Tacoma, WA $98,622

New Suffolk, NY $98,620

Sacramento, CA $98,595

Santa Barbara, CA $98,494

Trenton, NJ $98,394

San Diego, CA $98,394

Brockton, MA $98,294

Fairbanks, AK $98,070

Lompoc, CA $97,838

Lowell, MA $97,764

Ventura, CA $97,747

Nashua, NH $97,729

Stockton, CA $97,719

Modesto, CA $97,054

Poughkeepsie, NY $96,853

Olympia, WA $96,680

Kennewick, WA $96,680

New Haven, CT $96,643

Lawrence, MA $96,315

Hartford, CT $96,224

Riverside, CA $96,206

New Bedford, MA $96,115

Richland, WA $96,115

Bakersfield, CA $95,987

San Bernardino, CA $95,951

New Britain, CT $95,941

Atlantic City, NJ $95,941

New London, CT $95,905

Norwich, CT $95,878

Portsmouth, NH $95,859

Boulder, CO $95,666

Portland, OR $95,540

Worcester, MA $95,531

Minneapolis, MN $95,248

Philadelphia, PA $95,121

Honolulu, HI $94,820

Saint Paul, MN $94,776

Vineland, NJ $94,756

Providence, RI $94,492

Chicago, IL $94,227

Bellingham, WA $94,118

Springfield, MA $94,045

Baltimore, MD $94,017

Chico, CA $93,789

Pittsfield, MA $93,543

Manchester, NH $93,370

Spokane, WA $92,969

Denver, CO $92,960

Albany, NY $92,531

Troy, NY $92,495

Nassau, NY $92,397

Schenectady, NY $92,303

Wilmington, DE $92,230

Burlington, VT $92,103

Salem, OR $92,066

Portland, ME $91,783

Yakima, WA $91,692

Rochester, MN $91,410

Reno, NV $91,364

Fresno, CA $91,364

Milwaukee, WI $91,282

Detroit, MI $91,191

Ann Arbor, MI $91,175

Allentown, PA $91,163

Colorado Springs, CO $91,008

Syracuse, NY $90,963

Carson City, NV $90,963

Houston, TX $90,835

Eugene, OR $90,790

Gary, IN $90,680

Springfield, OR $90,607

Bismarck, ND $90,589

Galveston, TX $90,525

Medford, OR $90,388

Fort Collins, CO $90,352

Concord, NH $90,306

Austin, TX $90,279

Mesa, AZ $90,088

Reading, PA $90,078

Phoenix, AZ $90,069

Dallas, TX $90,042

Saint Cloud, MN $89,954

Madison, WI $89,832

Utica, NY $89,586

Rochester, NY $89,440

Des Moines, IA $89,431

Raleigh, NC $89,422

Atlanta, GA $89,285

Battle Creek, MI $89,258

Salt Lake City, UT $89,230

Lancaster, PA $89,094

Harrisburg, PA $88,966

Kansas City, MO $88,875

Champaign, IL $88,857

Kansas City, KS $88,857

Fort Worth, TX $88,847

Columbus, OH $88,832

Boca Raton, FL $88,811

Pittsburgh, PA $88,775

Richmond, VA $88,738

Indianapolis, IN $88,720

Cleveland, OH $88,711

Las Vegas, NV $88,601

Cincinnati, OH $88,601

Petersburg, VA $88,464

Huntsville, AL $88,328

Lansing, MI $88,267

Lebanon, PA $88,255

Pueblo, CO $88,246

Appleton, WI $88,218

Buffalo, NY $88,182

Dayton, OH $88,154

Racine, WI $88,136

Charlotte, NC $88,127

Saint Louis, MO $88,100

York, PA $88,045

Elkhart, IN $88,045

Gastonia, NC $88,028

Billings, MT $88,006

Beaumont, TX $87,981

Lorain, OH $87,963

Benton Harbor, MI $87,945

Toledo, OH $87,927

Binghamton, NY $87,881

Rock Hill, SC $87,872

Rockford, IL $87,826

Springfield, IL $87,790

Elyria, OH $87,781

Fargo, ND $87,781

Flagstaff, AZ $87,717

Fort Lauderdale, FL $87,662

Duluth, MN $87,607

Miami, FL $87,607

Cheyenne, WY $87,544

Grand Forks, ND $87,544

Bangor, ME $87,343

Cedar Rapids, IA $87,243

Durham, NC $87,204

Louisville, KY $87,197

Grand Rapids, MI $87,179

Hialeah, FL $87,170

Casper, WY $87,042

Scranton, PA $86,933

New Orleans, LA $86,905

Virginia Beach, VA $86,896

Akron, OH $86,851

Peoria, IL $86,732

Sarasota, FL $86,714

Nashville, TN $86,650

Omaha, NE $86,650

Green Bay, WI $86,650

Baton Rouge, LA $86,604

Charleston, SC $86,586

Jamestown, NY $86,541

Davenport, IA $86,541

Tucson, AZ $86,495

Saint Petersburg, FL $86,440

Tampa, FL $86,422

Evansville, IN $86,367

Port Arthur, TX $86,367

Bradenton, FL $86,331

Santa Fe, NM $86,167

Orlando, FL $86,003

Clearwater, FL $85,975

Canton, OH $85,784

La Crosse, WI $85,784

Albuquerque, NM $85,729

Newport News, VA $85,720

High Point, NC $85,693

Ogden, UT $85,656

Corpus Christi, TX $85,583

Norfolk, VA $85,528

Laramie, WY $85,528

Rock Island, IL $85,474

Saginaw, MI $85,455

Jacksonville, FL $85,446

Salisbury, NC $85,428

Boise, ID $85,410

Moline, IL $85,364

Fort Myers, FL $85,337

Memphis, TN $85,319

Tulsa, OK $85,273

Waterloo, IA $85,218

Spartanburg, SC $85,127

Lincoln, NE $85,082

Fort Wayne, IN $85,063

Provo, UT $85,054

Cedar Falls, IA $84,945

San Antonio, TX $84,908

Greensboro, NC $84,872

South Bend, IN $84,863

Savannah, GA $84,763

Muskegon, MI $84,726

Birmingham, AL $84,717

Winston Salem, NC $84,672

Lake Charles, LA $84,452

Anderson, IN $84,434

Lexington, KY $84,407

Augusta, GA $84,380

Greenville, SC $84,380

Lima, OH $84,307

Wichita, KS $84,297

Tuscaloosa, AL $84,297

Columbia, SC $84,215

Springfield, OH $84,197

Asheville, NC $84,051

Bloomington, IN $83,987

Knoxville, TN $83,659

Shreveport, LA $83,650

Wilmington, NC $83,532

Roanoke, VA $83,532

Topeka, KS $83,367

Frankfort, KY $83,357

Oklahoma City, OK $83,294

Chillicothe, OH $83,258

Longview, TX $83,249

Melbourne, FL $83,240

Sioux Falls, SD $83,094

Mobile, AL $83,085

Terre Haute, IN $83,048

Altoona, PA $82,994

Amarillo, TX $82,930

Killeen, TX $82,902

Fayetteville, AR $82,829

Chattanooga, TN $82,802

Sioux City, IA $82,720

Idaho Falls, ID $82,702

Lynchburg, VA $82,629

Gainesville, FL $82,510

Portsmouth, OH $82,465

Little Rock, AR $82,446

Lafayette, LA $82,410

Youngstown, OH $82,410

Daytona Beach, FL $82,355

Clarksville, TN $82,346

Pensacola, FL $82,337

Temple, TX $82,331

Hopkinsville, KY $82,064

Erie, PA $82,045

Florence, SC $82,009

Charleston, WV $81,863

Great Falls, MT $81,817

Macon, GA $81,690

Tallahassee, FL $81,681

Fayetteville, NC $81,662

Waco, TX $81,644

Helena, MT $81,580

Pine Bluff, AR $81,546

Vincennes, IN $81,434

Lubbock, TX $81,398

Alamogordo, NM $81,343

Twin Falls, ID $81,261

Rapid City, SD $81,234

Jackson, MS $81,070

Huntington, WV $81,063

Greenville, MS $81,061

Parkersburg, WV $80,968

Montgomery, AL $80,951

Wichita Falls, TX $80,860

Springfield, MO $80,860

Biloxi, MS $80,814

Monroe, LA $80,723

Johnstown, PA $80,659

Sumter, SC $80,623

Columbus, GA $80,614

Pascagoula, MS $80,440

Abilene, TX $80,440

Kingsport, TN $80,203

Albany, GA $80,203

Gulfport, MS $80,176

Alexandria, LA $79,875

Fort Smith, AR $79,647

El Paso, TX $79,401

Las Cruces, NM $78,991

Harlingen, TX $78,759

Pocatello, ID $78,745

Florence, AL $78,626

Brownsville, TX $78,608

Mcallen, TX $78,416

Dothan, AL $78,289

Columbus, MS $77,747

Altus, OK $77,322

Lawton, OK $77,149

Pierre, SD $76,821

What Skills Can Increase a CAD Draftsman'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 Draftsman'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	$98,476	8%
Innovation	$96,653	6%
Analysis	$95,741	5%
Leadership	$95,741	5%
Commitment	$94,829	4%
Collaboration	$94,829	4%

Get Latest Data

CAD Draftsman Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAD Draftsman roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Transportation and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, CAD Draftsman positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAD Draftsman as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CAD Draftsman

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Transportation	$118,536	$57.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$100,300	$48.0	10%
Financial Services	$100,300	$48.0	10%
Software & Networking	$98,476	$47.0	8%
Biotechnology	$95,741	$46.0	5%

How Education impacts a CAD Draftsman's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAD Draftsmans 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 Draftsman with a No Diploma is between $92,048 and $97,709).

CAD Draftsman Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAD Draftsman

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 Draftsman Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CAD Draftsman'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

$83,090

Average $91,182/year

$98,903

$6,924

Average $7,598/month

$8,242

$1,598

Average $1,753/week

$1,902

$40

Average $44/hour

$48

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$98,903	$8,242	$1,902	$48
Average	$91,182	$7,598	$1,753	$44
25th Percentile	$83,090	$6,924	$1,598	$40

Salaries of jobs related to CAD Draftsman

Salary Trends for CAD Draftsman

Salaries for a CAD Draftsman can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,579 in 2023 to around $96,292 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of CAD Draftsman salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of CAD Draftsman Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$98,579

2024

$97,490

2025

$96,292

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$98,579
2024	$97,490
2025	$96,292
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for CAD Draftsman

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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FAQ about CAD Draftsman

1. What industry pays the highest salary for CAD Draftsman?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for CAD Draftsman roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

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