What are the main factors that influence a Cad Operator'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 Operator's salary?

A Cad Operator's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $65,687, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $74,783, a Cad Operator (4-7 years)earns $90,550, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $117,051, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $137,148,

What are the highest paying states for a Cad Operator?

Cad Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Cad Operator roles are District of Columbia $99,575, California $99,198, Massachusetts $97,876. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Cad Operator roles make?

Salaries for Cad Operator level roles vary by specialization: CAD Coordinator: $90,494; CAD Programmer: $86,364; CAD Artist: $75,580; Senior CAD Operator: $67,228; CAD Detailer: $67,115.

How do different companies affect a Cad Operator's salary?

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

How much does a Cad Operator make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cad Operator in the United States is $89,934 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,701
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $81,067 to $97,141
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $72,994

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Cad Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,141	$8,095	$1,868	$47
Average	$89,934	$7,495	$1,730	$43
25th Percentile	$81,067	$6,756	$1,559	$39

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Key Factors That Influence Cad Operator Salaries

A Cad Operator'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 Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cad Operator'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): $65,687
Early Career (1-2 years): $74,783
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,550
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,051
Expert (over 8 years): $137,148

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level Cad Operator	$65,687
CAD Draft... Level Cad Operator	$74,783
Cad Opera... Level Cad Operator	$90,550
CAD Draft... Level Cad Operator	$117,051
CAD Draft... Level Cad Operator	$137,148

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Cad Operator 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 Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $99,575.
California: $99,198.
Massachusetts: $97,876.

District of Columbia $99,575 California $99,198 Massachusetts $97,876 Washington $97,516 New Jersey $97,480 Alaska $97,354 Connecticut $96,113 New York $95,609

Hawaii $93,999 Rhode Island $93,244 Maryland $92,731 Minnesota $92,030 Colorado $91,760 Illinois $91,670 Oregon $91,328 Delaware $91,077

New Hampshire $90,918 Virginia $90,564 Pennsylvania $89,530 Nevada $89,008 North Dakota $88,837 Michigan $88,567 Wisconsin $88,468 Vermont $88,271

Texas $87,722 Maine $87,686 Arizona $87,632 Ohio $87,569 Georgia $86,742 Indiana $86,328 Wyoming $86,247 Utah $86,121

Iowa $86,067 Kansas $85,636 Louisiana $85,510 North Carolina $85,465 Missouri $85,447 Florida $85,096 Montana $84,907 Nebraska $84,727

Kentucky $84,628 South Carolina $84,269 Tennessee $84,044 Idaho $83,954 New Mexico $83,297 Oklahoma $83,153 Alabama $82,623 South Dakota $81,732

Arkansas $81,247 West Virginia $80,986 Mississippi $80,203

Top Paying Cities for Cad Operators

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: $113,434
San Francisco: $112,319
Oakland: $109,828

San Jose, CA $113,434

San Francisco, CA $112,319

Oakland, CA $109,828

New York, NY $104,225

Queens Village, NY $103,550

Paramus, NJ $102,831

Passaic, NJ $102,741

Bergenfield, NJ $102,651

Stamford, CT $102,516

Huntington, NY $102,426

Newark, NJ $101,842

Bridgeport, CT $101,662

New Brunswick, NJ $101,365

Vallejo, CA $101,176

Middlesex, NJ $101,122

Somerset, NJ $101,041

Petaluma, CA $100,834

Santa Cruz, CA $100,484

Boston, MA $100,304

Monterey, CA $99,854

Fairbanks, AK $99,791

Los Angeles, CA $99,620

Washington, DC $99,575

Seattle, WA $99,413

Santa Rosa, CA $99,395

Juneau, AK $99,135

Orange, CA $98,838

Anchorage, AK $98,676

Anaheim, CA $98,613

Santa Ana, CA $98,478

Nassau, NY $98,424

Long Beach, CA $98,388

Danbury, CT $98,361

Santa Maria, CA $98,055

Everett, WA $98,037

Bremerton, WA $97,597

Trenton, NJ $97,426

Sacramento, CA $97,390

San Diego, CA $97,345

Brockton, MA $97,309

Tacoma, WA $97,273

Santa Barbara, CA $97,147

Lowell, MA $96,787

New Suffolk, NY $96,751

Nashua, NH $96,644

Lompoc, CA $96,500

Ventura, CA $96,410

Stockton, CA $96,383

New Haven, CT $96,203

Atlantic City, NJ $95,969

Hartford, CT $95,771

Modesto, CA $95,726

Poughkeepsie, NY $95,528

New Britain, CT $95,483

Olympia, WA $95,357

Kennewick, WA $95,357

New London, CT $95,339

Norwich, CT $95,312

Lawrence, MA $95,268

Bakersfield, CA $95,016

Riverside, CA $94,890

New Bedford, MA $94,890

Richland, WA $94,800

Portsmouth, NH $94,728

Vineland, NJ $94,710

San Bernardino, CA $94,638

Boulder, CO $94,386

Worcester, MA $94,314

Portland, OR $94,233

Saint Paul, MN $94,125

Minneapolis, MN $94,125

Philadelphia, PA $93,999

Honolulu, HI $93,523

Springfield, MA $93,208

Providence, RI $93,199

Chicago, IL $92,938

Bellingham, WA $92,830

Baltimore, MD $92,731

Chico, CA $92,507

Wilmington, DE $92,354

Pittsfield, MA $92,264

Manchester, NH $92,093

Spokane, WA $91,697

Denver, CO $91,688

Albany, NY $91,265

Troy, NY $91,229

Schenectady, NY $91,041

Burlington, VT $90,843

Portland, ME $90,528

Salem, OR $90,456

Yakima, WA $90,438

Ann Arbor, MI $90,411

Rochester, MN $90,159

Fresno, CA $90,114

Reno, NV $90,114

Milwaukee, WI $90,033

Detroit, MI $89,943

Allentown, PA $89,916

Carson City, NV $89,907

Houston, TX $89,773

Colorado Springs, CO $89,764

Syracuse, NY $89,719

Eugene, OR $89,548

Bismarck, ND $89,440

Gary, IN $89,440

Galveston, TX $89,440

Springfield, OR $89,368

Medford, OR $89,152

Fort Collins, CO $89,116

Austin, TX $89,044

Mesa, AZ $88,855

Phoenix, AZ $88,837

Dallas, TX $88,810

Reading, PA $88,756

Saint Cloud, MN $88,720

Concord, NH $88,639

Madison, WI $88,603

Utica, NY $88,361

Raleigh, NC $88,289

Las Vegas, NV $88,280

Rochester, NY $88,217

Des Moines, IA $88,208

Atlanta, GA $88,064

Battle Creek, MI $88,037

Salt Lake City, UT $88,010

Lancaster, PA $87,875

Champaign, IL $87,857

Harrisburg, PA $87,749

Durham, NC $87,668

Kansas City, MO $87,659

Kansas City, KS $87,641

Fort Worth, TX $87,632

Boca Raton, FL $87,596

Cleveland, OH $87,587

Columbus, OH $87,569

Pittsburgh, PA $87,560

Richmond, VA $87,524

Indianapolis, IN $87,506

Cincinnati, OH $87,389

Petersburg, VA $87,254

Billings, MT $87,056

Lansing, MI $87,056

Huntsville, AL $87,056

Lebanon, PA $87,048

Dayton, OH $87,039

Pueblo, CO $87,039

Appleton, WI $87,012

Buffalo, NY $86,976

Racine, WI $86,931

Charlotte, NC $86,922

Saint Louis, MO $86,895

Springfield, IL $86,859

Elkhart, IN $86,841

York, PA $86,841

Gastonia, NC $86,832

Benton Harbor, MI $86,832

Beaumont, TX $86,778

Lorain, OH $86,760

Toledo, OH $86,724

Binghamton, NY $86,679

Rock Hill, SC $86,670

Rockford, IL $86,625

Fargo, ND $86,580

Elyria, OH $86,580

Flagstaff, AZ $86,517

Fort Lauderdale, FL $86,463

Miami, FL $86,409

Duluth, MN $86,265

Bangor, ME $86,148

Cedar Rapids, IA $86,049

Louisville, KY $86,004

Grand Rapids, MI $85,986

Hialeah, FL $85,977

Casper, WY $85,851

Scranton, PA $85,743

New Orleans, LA $85,716

Virginia Beach, VA $85,707

Akron, OH $85,663

Peoria, IL $85,546

Sarasota, FL $85,528

Green Bay, WI $85,465

Baton Rouge, LA $85,420

Charleston, SC $85,402

Nashville, TN $85,375

Jamestown, NY $85,357

Davenport, IA $85,357

Tucson, AZ $85,312

Cheyenne, WY $85,285

Saint Petersburg, FL $85,258

Tampa, FL $85,240

Omaha, NE $85,222

Port Arthur, TX $85,186

Evansville, IN $85,186

Bradenton, FL $85,150

Santa Fe, NM $84,988

Orlando, FL $84,898

Clearwater, FL $84,799

Canton, OH $84,610

La Crosse, WI $84,610

Grand Forks, ND $84,583

Albuquerque, NM $84,556

Tulsa, OK $84,556

Newport News, VA $84,547

High Point, NC $84,520

Ogden, UT $84,484

Corpus Christi, TX $84,412

Laramie, WY $84,358

Norfolk, VA $84,358

Rock Island, IL $84,305

Saginaw, MI $84,287

Jacksonville, FL $84,278

Salisbury, NC $84,260

Memphis, TN $84,242

Moline, IL $84,197

Fort Myers, FL $84,170

Waterloo, IA $84,053

Spartanburg, SC $83,963

Lincoln, NE $83,918

Fort Wayne, IN $83,900

Birmingham, AL $83,801

Cedar Falls, IA $83,783

Provo, UT $83,774

Springfield, OH $83,765

San Antonio, TX $83,747

Greensboro, NC $83,711

South Bend, IN $83,702

Winston Salem, NC $83,693

Boise, ID $83,666

Savannah, GA $83,603

Muskegon, MI $83,441

Lima, OH $83,333

Lake Charles, LA $83,297

Anderson, IN $83,279

Lexington, KY $83,252

Augusta, GA $83,225

Greenville, SC $83,225

Wichita, KS $83,144

Tuscaloosa, AL $83,144

Columbia, SC $83,063

Bloomington, IN $82,839

Roanoke, VA $82,785

Asheville, NC $82,668

Knoxville, TN $82,515

Shreveport, LA $82,506

Wilmington, NC $82,389

Frankfort, KY $82,218

Oklahoma City, OK $82,155

Chillicothe, OH $82,119

Longview, TX $82,110

Topeka, KS $82,083

Mobile, AL $81,948

Terre Haute, IN $81,912

Erie, PA $81,903

Altoona, PA $81,858

Melbourne, FL $81,831

Amarillo, TX $81,795

Killeen, TX $81,768

Fayetteville, AR $81,696

Sioux Falls, SD $81,633

Chattanooga, TN $81,579

Idaho Falls, ID $81,571

Gainesville, FL $81,382

Portsmouth, OH $81,337

Little Rock, AR $81,319

Lynchburg, VA $81,319

Lafayette, LA $81,283

Youngstown, OH $81,283

Temple, TX $81,247

Daytona Beach, FL $81,229

Clarksville, TN $81,220

Pensacola, FL $81,211

Hopkinsville, KY $80,941

Charleston, WV $80,932

Florence, SC $80,887

Sioux City, IA $80,833

Macon, GA $80,572

Tallahassee, FL $80,563

Fayetteville, NC $80,545

Waco, TX $80,527

Wichita Falls, TX $80,527

Pine Bluff, AR $80,491

Vincennes, IN $80,320

Lubbock, TX $80,284

Great Falls, MT $80,230

Alamogordo, NM $80,221

Abilene, TX $80,150

Rapid City, SD $80,033

Monroe, LA $80,033

Albany, GA $79,979

Huntington, WV $79,970

Jackson, MS $79,961

Greenville, MS $79,952

Parkersburg, WV $79,862

Montgomery, AL $79,844

Johnstown, PA $79,826

Springfield, MO $79,754

Biloxi, MS $79,709

Sumter, SC $79,520

Columbus, GA $79,511

Twin Falls, ID $79,457

Pascagoula, MS $79,340

Kingsport, TN $79,106

Gulfport, MS $79,079

Alexandria, LA $78,783

Fort Smith, AR $78,558

El Paso, TX $78,315

Helena, MT $78,198

Las Cruces, NM $77,910

Harlingen, TX $77,658

Pocatello, ID $77,577

Florence, AL $77,550

Brownsville, TX $77,532

Dothan, AL $77,389

Mcallen, TX $77,344

Columbus, MS $76,678

Altus, OK $76,264

Lawton, OK $76,093

Pierre, SD $75,770

What Skills Can Increase a Cad Operator'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 Operator'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	$97,129	8%
Innovation	$95,330	6%
Analysis	$94,431	5%
Leadership	$94,431	5%
Commitment	$93,532	4%
Collaboration	$93,532	4%

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How Education impacts a Cad Operator's Salary?

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

Cad Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cad Operator

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

Understanding how a Cad Operator'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 January 01, 2026

$81,067

Average $89,934/year

$97,141

$6,756

Average $7,495/month

$8,095

$1,559

Average $1,730/week

$1,868

$39

Average $43/hour

$47

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$97,141	$8,095	$1,868	$47
Average	$89,934	$7,495	$1,730	$43
25th Percentile	$81,067	$6,756	$1,559	$39

Salaries of jobs related to Cad Operator

Salary Trends for Cad Operator

Salaries for a Cad Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $98,510 in 2023 to around $96,224 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cad Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cad Operator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$98,510

2024

$97,421

2025

$96,224

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$98,510
2024	$97,421
2025	$96,224
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Cad Operator

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401(k)

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Healthcare

Pension

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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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