What are the main factors that influence an Autocad Designer's salary?

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

How does experience change An Autocad Designer's salary?

An Autocad Designer's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $66,640, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $75,872, a Autocad Designer (4-7 years)earns $91,864, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $118,719, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $139,099,

What are the highest paying states for an Autocad Designer?

Autocad Designer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Autocad Designer roles are District of Columbia $101,019, California $100,636, Massachusetts $99,295. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Autocad Designer roles make?

Salaries for Autocad Designer level roles vary by specialization: AutoCAD Engineer: $136,226; Autocad Specialist: $118,180; Autocad Detailer: $91,444; Autocad Operator: $90,505; Autocad Drafter: $87,424.

How do different companies affect an Autocad Designer's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Autocad Designer 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.

Autocad Designer Salary in the United States

How much does an Autocad Designer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Autocad Designer in the United States is $91,238 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,188
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,235 to $98,540
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $74,038

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Autocad Designer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$98,540	$8,212	$1,895	$47
Average	$91,238	$7,603	$1,755	$44
25th Percentile	$82,235	$6,853	$1,581	$40

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Key Factors That Influence Autocad Designer Salaries

An Autocad Designer'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 Autocad Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Autocad Designer'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): $66,640
Early Career (1-2 years): $75,872
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,864
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $118,719
Expert (over 8 years): $139,099

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level Autocad Designer	$66,640
CAD Draft... Level Autocad Designer	$75,872
Autocad D... Level Autocad Designer	$91,864
CAD Draft... Level Autocad Designer	$118,719
CAD Draft... Level Autocad Designer	$139,099

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Autocad Designer 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 Autocad Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $101,019.
California: $100,636.
Massachusetts: $99,295.

District of Columbia $101,019 California $100,636 Massachusetts $99,295 Washington $98,930 New Jersey $98,893 Alaska $98,766 Connecticut $97,506 New York $96,996

Hawaii $95,362 Rhode Island $94,596 Maryland $94,076 Minnesota $93,364 Colorado $93,091 Illinois $92,999 Oregon $92,653 Delaware $92,397

New Hampshire $92,237 Virginia $91,877 Pennsylvania $90,828 Nevada $90,299 North Dakota $90,125 Michigan $89,852 Wisconsin $89,751 Vermont $89,550

Texas $88,994 Maine $88,957 Arizona $88,903 Ohio $88,839 Georgia $87,999 Indiana $87,580 Wyoming $87,498 Utah $87,370

Iowa $87,315 Kansas $86,877 Louisiana $86,749 North Carolina $86,704 Missouri $86,686 Florida $86,330 Montana $86,138 Nebraska $85,956

Kentucky $85,855 South Carolina $85,490 Tennessee $85,262 Idaho $85,171 New Mexico $84,505 Oklahoma $84,359 Alabama $83,821 South Dakota $82,917

Arkansas $82,425 West Virginia $82,160 Mississippi $81,366

Top Paying Cities for Autocad Designers

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: $115,079
San Francisco: $113,819
Oakland: $111,420

San Jose, CA $115,079

San Francisco, CA $113,819

Oakland, CA $111,420

New York, NY $105,051

Paramus, NJ $103,774

Queens Village, NY $103,769

Passaic, NJ $103,682

Bergenfield, NJ $103,674

Stamford, CT $103,473

Huntington, NY $103,436

Newark, NJ $102,762

Bridgeport, CT $102,569

Vallejo, CA $102,388

New Brunswick, NJ $102,351

Petaluma, CA $102,296

Middlesex, NJ $102,123

Somerset, NJ $102,059

Santa Cruz, CA $101,941

Boston, MA $101,384

Monterey, CA $101,064

Seattle, WA $100,855

Santa Rosa, CA $100,837

Los Angeles, CA $100,809

Juneau, AK $100,572

Washington, DC $100,472

Orange, CA $100,147

Santa Ana, CA $99,906

Long Beach, CA $99,815

Anaheim, CA $99,797

Anchorage, AK $99,751

Santa Maria, CA $99,477

Everett, WA $99,459

Danbury, CT $99,138

Bremerton, WA $99,012

Tacoma, WA $98,683

New Suffolk, NY $98,682

Sacramento, CA $98,656

Santa Barbara, CA $98,556

Trenton, NJ $98,455

San Diego, CA $98,455

Brockton, MA $98,355

Fairbanks, AK $98,131

Lompoc, CA $97,899

Lowell, MA $97,825

Ventura, CA $97,808

Nashua, NH $97,789

Stockton, CA $97,780

Modesto, CA $97,114

Poughkeepsie, NY $96,913

Olympia, WA $96,740

Kennewick, WA $96,740

New Haven, CT $96,704

Lawrence, MA $96,375

Hartford, CT $96,284

Riverside, CA $96,266

New Bedford, MA $96,174

Richland, WA $96,174

Bakersfield, CA $96,047

San Bernardino, CA $96,010

New Britain, CT $96,001

Atlantic City, NJ $96,001

New London, CT $95,965

Norwich, CT $95,937

Portsmouth, NH $95,919

Boulder, CO $95,726

Portland, OR $95,600

Worcester, MA $95,590

Minneapolis, MN $95,308

Philadelphia, PA $95,180

Honolulu, HI $94,879

Saint Paul, MN $94,835

Vineland, NJ $94,815

Providence, RI $94,550

Chicago, IL $94,286

Bellingham, WA $94,176

Springfield, MA $94,103

Baltimore, MD $94,076

Chico, CA $93,848

Pittsfield, MA $93,601

Manchester, NH $93,428

Spokane, WA $93,027

Denver, CO $93,018

Albany, NY $92,589

Troy, NY $92,552

Nassau, NY $92,455

Schenectady, NY $92,361

Wilmington, DE $92,288

Burlington, VT $92,160

Salem, OR $92,123

Portland, ME $91,841

Yakima, WA $91,749

Rochester, MN $91,466

Reno, NV $91,421

Fresno, CA $91,421

Milwaukee, WI $91,339

Detroit, MI $91,248

Ann Arbor, MI $91,232

Allentown, PA $91,220

Colorado Springs, CO $91,065

Syracuse, NY $91,019

Carson City, NV $91,019

Houston, TX $90,892

Eugene, OR $90,846

Gary, IN $90,737

Springfield, OR $90,664

Bismarck, ND $90,645

Galveston, TX $90,581

Medford, OR $90,445

Fort Collins, CO $90,408

Concord, NH $90,363

Austin, TX $90,335

Mesa, AZ $90,144

Reading, PA $90,134

Phoenix, AZ $90,125

Dallas, TX $90,098

Saint Cloud, MN $90,010

Madison, WI $89,888

Utica, NY $89,642

Rochester, NY $89,496

Des Moines, IA $89,487

Raleigh, NC $89,477

Atlanta, GA $89,341

Battle Creek, MI $89,313

Salt Lake City, UT $89,286

Lancaster, PA $89,149

Harrisburg, PA $89,021

Kansas City, MO $88,930

Champaign, IL $88,912

Kansas City, KS $88,912

Fort Worth, TX $88,903

Columbus, OH $88,887

Boca Raton, FL $88,866

Pittsburgh, PA $88,830

Richmond, VA $88,793

Indianapolis, IN $88,775

Cleveland, OH $88,766

Las Vegas, NV $88,656

Cincinnati, OH $88,656

Petersburg, VA $88,519

Huntsville, AL $88,383

Lansing, MI $88,322

Lebanon, PA $88,310

Pueblo, CO $88,301

Appleton, WI $88,273

Buffalo, NY $88,237

Dayton, OH $88,209

Racine, WI $88,191

Charlotte, NC $88,182

Saint Louis, MO $88,155

York, PA $88,100

Elkhart, IN $88,100

Gastonia, NC $88,082

Billings, MT $88,061

Beaumont, TX $88,036

Lorain, OH $88,018

Benton Harbor, MI $87,999

Toledo, OH $87,981

Binghamton, NY $87,936

Rock Hill, SC $87,926

Rockford, IL $87,881

Springfield, IL $87,844

Elyria, OH $87,835

Fargo, ND $87,835

Flagstaff, AZ $87,771

Fort Lauderdale, FL $87,717

Duluth, MN $87,662

Miami, FL $87,662

Cheyenne, WY $87,598

Grand Forks, ND $87,598

Bangor, ME $87,397

Cedar Rapids, IA $87,297

Durham, NC $87,259

Louisville, KY $87,251

Grand Rapids, MI $87,233

Hialeah, FL $87,224

Casper, WY $87,096

Scranton, PA $86,987

New Orleans, LA $86,959

Virginia Beach, VA $86,950

Akron, OH $86,905

Peoria, IL $86,786

Sarasota, FL $86,768

Nashville, TN $86,704

Omaha, NE $86,704

Green Bay, WI $86,704

Baton Rouge, LA $86,658

Charleston, SC $86,640

Jamestown, NY $86,594

Davenport, IA $86,594

Tucson, AZ $86,549

Saint Petersburg, FL $86,494

Tampa, FL $86,476

Evansville, IN $86,421

Port Arthur, TX $86,421

Bradenton, FL $86,385

Santa Fe, NM $86,220

Orlando, FL $86,056

Clearwater, FL $86,029

Canton, OH $85,837

La Crosse, WI $85,837

Albuquerque, NM $85,782

Newport News, VA $85,773

High Point, NC $85,746

Ogden, UT $85,709

Corpus Christi, TX $85,636

Norfolk, VA $85,582

Laramie, WY $85,582

Rock Island, IL $85,527

Saginaw, MI $85,509

Jacksonville, FL $85,500

Salisbury, NC $85,481

Boise, ID $85,463

Moline, IL $85,417

Fort Myers, FL $85,390

Memphis, TN $85,372

Tulsa, OK $85,326

Waterloo, IA $85,271

Spartanburg, SC $85,180

Lincoln, NE $85,135

Fort Wayne, IN $85,116

Provo, UT $85,107

Cedar Falls, IA $84,998

San Antonio, TX $84,961

Greensboro, NC $84,925

South Bend, IN $84,916

Savannah, GA $84,815

Muskegon, MI $84,779

Birmingham, AL $84,770

Winston Salem, NC $84,725

Lake Charles, LA $84,505

Anderson, IN $84,487

Lexington, KY $84,459

Augusta, GA $84,432

Greenville, SC $84,432

Lima, OH $84,359

Wichita, KS $84,350

Tuscaloosa, AL $84,350

Columbia, SC $84,268

Springfield, OH $84,250

Asheville, NC $84,104

Bloomington, IN $84,040

Knoxville, TN $83,711

Shreveport, LA $83,702

Wilmington, NC $83,583

Roanoke, VA $83,583

Topeka, KS $83,419

Frankfort, KY $83,409

Oklahoma City, OK $83,346

Chillicothe, OH $83,310

Longview, TX $83,301

Melbourne, FL $83,292

Sioux Falls, SD $83,146

Mobile, AL $83,136

Terre Haute, IN $83,100

Altoona, PA $83,045

Amarillo, TX $82,981

Killeen, TX $82,954

Fayetteville, AR $82,881

Chattanooga, TN $82,854

Sioux City, IA $82,771

Idaho Falls, ID $82,753

Lynchburg, VA $82,680

Gainesville, FL $82,562

Portsmouth, OH $82,516

Little Rock, AR $82,498

Lafayette, LA $82,461

Youngstown, OH $82,461

Daytona Beach, FL $82,407

Clarksville, TN $82,397

Pensacola, FL $82,388

Temple, TX $82,382

Hopkinsville, KY $82,115

Erie, PA $82,096

Florence, SC $82,060

Charleston, WV $81,914

Great Falls, MT $81,868

Macon, GA $81,740

Tallahassee, FL $81,731

Fayetteville, NC $81,713

Waco, TX $81,695

Helena, MT $81,631

Pine Bluff, AR $81,596

Vincennes, IN $81,485

Lubbock, TX $81,449

Alamogordo, NM $81,394

Twin Falls, ID $81,312

Rapid City, SD $81,284

Jackson, MS $81,120

Huntington, WV $81,114

Greenville, MS $81,111

Parkersburg, WV $81,018

Montgomery, AL $81,001

Wichita Falls, TX $80,910

Springfield, MO $80,910

Biloxi, MS $80,865

Monroe, LA $80,773

Johnstown, PA $80,709

Sumter, SC $80,673

Columbus, GA $80,664

Pascagoula, MS $80,491

Abilene, TX $80,491

Kingsport, TN $80,253

Albany, GA $80,253

Gulfport, MS $80,226

Alexandria, LA $79,925

Fort Smith, AR $79,697

El Paso, TX $79,450

Las Cruces, NM $79,040

Harlingen, TX $78,808

Pocatello, ID $78,793

Florence, AL $78,675

Brownsville, TX $78,657

Mcallen, TX $78,465

Dothan, AL $78,337

Columbus, MS $77,795

Altus, OK $77,370

Lawton, OK $77,197

Pierre, SD $76,868

What Skills Can Increase an Autocad Designer'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 an Autocad Designer'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	$98,537	8%
Innovation	$96,713	6%
Analysis	$95,800	5%
Leadership	$95,800	5%
Commitment	$94,888	4%
Collaboration	$94,888	4%

Get Latest Data

Autocad Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Autocad Designer 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, Autocad Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Autocad Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Autocad Designer

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Transportation	$118,610	$57.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$100,362	$48.0	10%
Financial Services	$100,362	$48.0	10%
Software & Networking	$98,537	$47.0	8%
Biotechnology	$95,800	$46.0	5%

How Education impacts an Autocad Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Autocad Designers 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 an Autocad Designer with a No Diploma is between $92,048 and $97,709).

Autocad Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Autocad Designer

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

Autocad Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Autocad Designer'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

$82,235

Average $91,238/year

$98,540

$6,853

Average $7,603/month

$8,212

$1,581

Average $1,755/week

$1,895

$40

Average $44/hour

$47

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$98,540	$8,212	$1,895	$47
Average	$91,238	$7,603	$1,755	$44
25th Percentile	$82,235	$6,853	$1,581	$40

Salaries of jobs related to Autocad Designer

Salary Trends for Autocad Designer

Salaries for an Autocad Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $99,939 in 2023 to around $97,620 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Autocad Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Autocad Designer Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$99,939

2024

$98,834

2025

$97,620

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$99,939
2024	$98,834
2025	$97,620
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Autocad Designer

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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FAQ about Autocad Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Autocad Designer?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for Autocad Designer 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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