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CAE Salary in the United States

How much does a CAE make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a CAE in the United States is $749,429 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $360.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $924,894
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $667,542 to $841,274
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $592,988
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence CAE Salaries

A CAE'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 Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CAE'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): $692,176
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $699,566
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $709,420
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $724,201
  • Expert (over 8 years): $742,676
Levels Salary
Entry Level CAE$692,176
Intermediate Level CAE$699,566
Senior Level CAE$709,420
Specialist Level CAE$724,201
Expert Level CAE$742,676
View as Graph

How Do CAE 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 CAEs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $829,768.
  • California: $826,620.
  • Massachusetts: $815,604.

Top Paying Cities for CAEs

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: $945,255
  • San Francisco: $934,905
  • Oakland: $915,203

What Skills Can Increase a CAE's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 16.74% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 1.2% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 16.74%
Patient Care 1.2%
PowerPoint 1%
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's salary.

  • Business Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Change Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Business Administration $854,349
14%
Change Management $846,855
13%
Innovation $831,866
11%
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CAE Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CAE roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, CAE positions in Telecom or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CAE as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a CAE

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$1,124,144$540.050%

How Education impacts a CAE's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CAEs 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 CAE with a No Diploma is between $729,841 and $857,736).

CAE Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CAE
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 6.8%
Associates 4.6%
Bachelors 36.9%
Masters 40.3%
Doctorate 10.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a CAE'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 September 01, 2026
$667,542
Average $749,429/year
$841,274
$55,629
Average $62,452/month
$70,106
$12,837
Average $14,412/week
$16,178
$321
Average $360/hour
$404
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $841,274 $70,106 $16,178 $404
Average $749,429 $62,452 $14,412 $360
25th Percentile $667,542 $55,629 $12,837 $321

Most common benefits for CAE

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

Common company salaries for CAE

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

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FAQ about CAE

1. What industry pays the highest salary for CAE?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for CAE roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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