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

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

What industry pays the highest salary for Cad Specialist?

The Transportation industry offers the highest average compensation for Cad Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

How does experience change A Cad Specialist's salary?

A Cad Specialist's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $64,522, a CAD Drafter II (2-4 years)earns $73,460, a Cad Specialist (4-7 years)earns $88,945, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $114,951, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $134,685,

What are the highest paying states for a Cad Specialist?

Cad Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Cad Specialist roles are District of Columbia $97,809, California $97,438, Massachusetts $96,140. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Cad Specialist roles make?

Salaries for Cad Specialist level roles vary by specialization: CAD Designer IV: $117,900; CAD Drafter, Specialist: $117,890; CAD Drafter IV: $117,886; CAD Programmer: $86,364; CAD Artist: $75,584.

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

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

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cad Specialist in the United States is $88,339 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,844
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $79,623 to $95,408
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $71,688

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Cad Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,408	$7,951	$1,835	$46
Average	$88,339	$7,362	$1,699	$42
25th Percentile	$79,623	$6,635	$1,531	$38

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Key Factors That Influence Cad Specialist Salaries

A Cad Specialist'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 Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Cad Specialist'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): $64,522
Early Career (1-2 years): $73,460
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $88,945
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $114,951
Expert (over 8 years): $134,685

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist	$64,522
CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist	$73,460
Cad Speci... Level Cad Specialist	$88,945
CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist	$114,951
CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist	$134,685

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $97,809.
California: $97,438.
Massachusetts: $96,140.

District of Columbia $97,809 California $97,438 Massachusetts $96,140 Washington $95,786 New Jersey $95,751 Alaska $95,627 Connecticut $94,408 New York $93,914

Hawaii $92,332 Rhode Island $91,590 Maryland $91,087 Minnesota $90,398 Colorado $90,133 Illinois $90,044 Oregon $89,709 Delaware $89,461

New Hampshire $89,306 Virginia $88,958 Pennsylvania $87,942 Nevada $87,430 North Dakota $87,262 Michigan $86,997 Wisconsin $86,899 Vermont $86,705

Texas $86,166 Maine $86,131 Arizona $86,078 Ohio $86,016 Georgia $85,203 Indiana $84,797 Wyoming $84,717 Utah $84,594

Iowa $84,541 Kansas $84,117 Louisiana $83,993 North Carolina $83,949 Missouri $83,931 Florida $83,587 Montana $83,401 Nebraska $83,225

Kentucky $83,127 South Carolina $82,774 Tennessee $82,553 Idaho $82,465 New Mexico $81,820 Oklahoma $81,679 Alabama $81,157 South Dakota $80,283

Arkansas $79,806 West Virginia $79,550 Mississippi $78,781

Top Paying Cities for Cad Specialists

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: $111,422
San Francisco: $110,203
Oakland: $107,880

San Jose, CA $111,422

San Francisco, CA $110,203

Oakland, CA $107,880

New York, NY $101,713

Paramus, NJ $100,476

Queens Village, NY $100,472

Passaic, NJ $100,388

Bergenfield, NJ $100,380

Stamford, CT $100,186

Huntington, NY $100,149

Newark, NJ $99,497

Bridgeport, CT $99,310

Vallejo, CA $99,134

New Brunswick, NJ $99,099

Petaluma, CA $99,046

Middlesex, NJ $98,878

Somerset, NJ $98,816

Santa Cruz, CA $98,702

Boston, MA $98,163

Monterey, CA $97,853

Seattle, WA $97,650

Santa Rosa, CA $97,633

Los Angeles, CA $97,606

Juneau, AK $97,377

Washington, DC $97,279

Orange, CA $96,965

Santa Ana, CA $96,732

Long Beach, CA $96,643

Anaheim, CA $96,626

Anchorage, AK $96,581

Santa Maria, CA $96,316

Everett, WA $96,299

Danbury, CT $95,988

Bremerton, WA $95,866

Tacoma, WA $95,548

New Suffolk, NY $95,546

Sacramento, CA $95,521

Santa Barbara, CA $95,424

Trenton, NJ $95,327

San Diego, CA $95,327

Brockton, MA $95,230

Fairbanks, AK $95,013

Lompoc, CA $94,788

Lowell, MA $94,717

Ventura, CA $94,700

Nashua, NH $94,682

Stockton, CA $94,673

Modesto, CA $94,028

Poughkeepsie, NY $93,834

Olympia, WA $93,666

Kennewick, WA $93,666

New Haven, CT $93,631

Lawrence, MA $93,313

Hartford, CT $93,225

Riverside, CA $93,207

New Bedford, MA $93,119

Richland, WA $93,119

Bakersfield, CA $92,995

San Bernardino, CA $92,960

New Britain, CT $92,951

Atlantic City, NJ $92,951

New London, CT $92,915

Norwich, CT $92,889

Portsmouth, NH $92,871

Boulder, CO $92,684

Portland, OR $92,562

Worcester, MA $92,553

Minneapolis, MN $92,279

Philadelphia, PA $92,156

Honolulu, HI $91,864

Saint Paul, MN $91,822

Vineland, NJ $91,802

Providence, RI $91,546

Chicago, IL $91,290

Bellingham, WA $91,184

Springfield, MA $91,113

Baltimore, MD $91,087

Chico, CA $90,866

Pittsfield, MA $90,627

Manchester, NH $90,460

Spokane, WA $90,071

Denver, CO $90,062

Albany, NY $89,647

Troy, NY $89,611

Nassau, NY $89,517

Schenectady, NY $89,426

Wilmington, DE $89,355

Burlington, VT $89,232

Salem, OR $89,196

Portland, ME $88,922

Yakima, WA $88,834

Rochester, MN $88,560

Reno, NV $88,516

Fresno, CA $88,516

Milwaukee, WI $88,437

Detroit, MI $88,348

Ann Arbor, MI $88,333

Allentown, PA $88,322

Colorado Springs, CO $88,172

Syracuse, NY $88,127

Carson City, NV $88,127

Houston, TX $88,004

Eugene, OR $87,960

Gary, IN $87,854

Springfield, OR $87,783

Bismarck, ND $87,765

Galveston, TX $87,703

Medford, OR $87,571

Fort Collins, CO $87,536

Concord, NH $87,491

Austin, TX $87,465

Mesa, AZ $87,279

Reading, PA $87,270

Phoenix, AZ $87,262

Dallas, TX $87,235

Saint Cloud, MN $87,150

Madison, WI $87,032

Utica, NY $86,793

Rochester, NY $86,652

Des Moines, IA $86,643

Raleigh, NC $86,634

Atlanta, GA $86,502

Battle Creek, MI $86,475

Salt Lake City, UT $86,449

Lancaster, PA $86,316

Harrisburg, PA $86,193

Kansas City, MO $86,104

Champaign, IL $86,087

Kansas City, KS $86,087

Fort Worth, TX $86,078

Columbus, OH $86,063

Boca Raton, FL $86,043

Pittsburgh, PA $86,007

Richmond, VA $85,972

Indianapolis, IN $85,954

Cleveland, OH $85,945

Las Vegas, NV $85,839

Cincinnati, OH $85,839

Petersburg, VA $85,707

Huntsville, AL $85,574

Lansing, MI $85,515

Lebanon, PA $85,504

Pueblo, CO $85,495

Appleton, WI $85,468

Buffalo, NY $85,433

Dayton, OH $85,407

Racine, WI $85,389

Charlotte, NC $85,380

Saint Louis, MO $85,354

York, PA $85,301

Elkhart, IN $85,301

Gastonia, NC $85,284

Billings, MT $85,263

Beaumont, TX $85,239

Lorain, OH $85,221

Benton Harbor, MI $85,203

Toledo, OH $85,186

Binghamton, NY $85,142

Rock Hill, SC $85,133

Rockford, IL $85,089

Springfield, IL $85,053

Elyria, OH $85,044

Fargo, ND $85,044

Flagstaff, AZ $84,983

Fort Lauderdale, FL $84,929

Duluth, MN $84,876

Miami, FL $84,876

Cheyenne, WY $84,815

Grand Forks, ND $84,815

Bangor, ME $84,620

Cedar Rapids, IA $84,523

Durham, NC $84,486

Louisville, KY $84,479

Grand Rapids, MI $84,461

Hialeah, FL $84,452

Casper, WY $84,329

Scranton, PA $84,223

New Orleans, LA $84,196

Virginia Beach, VA $84,187

Akron, OH $84,143

Peoria, IL $84,028

Sarasota, FL $84,011

Nashville, TN $83,949

Omaha, NE $83,949

Green Bay, WI $83,949

Baton Rouge, LA $83,905

Charleston, SC $83,887

Jamestown, NY $83,843

Davenport, IA $83,843

Tucson, AZ $83,799

Saint Petersburg, FL $83,746

Tampa, FL $83,728

Evansville, IN $83,675

Port Arthur, TX $83,675

Bradenton, FL $83,640

Santa Fe, NM $83,481

Orlando, FL $83,322

Clearwater, FL $83,295

Canton, OH $83,110

La Crosse, WI $83,110

Albuquerque, NM $83,057

Newport News, VA $83,048

High Point, NC $83,021

Ogden, UT $82,986

Corpus Christi, TX $82,915

Norfolk, VA $82,862

Laramie, WY $82,862

Rock Island, IL $82,809

Saginaw, MI $82,792

Jacksonville, FL $82,783

Salisbury, NC $82,765

Boise, ID $82,748

Moline, IL $82,703

Fort Myers, FL $82,677

Memphis, TN $82,659

Tulsa, OK $82,615

Waterloo, IA $82,562

Spartanburg, SC $82,474

Lincoln, NE $82,429

Fort Wayne, IN $82,412

Provo, UT $82,403

Cedar Falls, IA $82,297

San Antonio, TX $82,262

Greensboro, NC $82,226

South Bend, IN $82,217

Savannah, GA $82,120

Muskegon, MI $82,085

Birmingham, AL $82,076

Winston Salem, NC $82,033

Lake Charles, LA $81,820

Anderson, IN $81,802

Lexington, KY $81,776

Augusta, GA $81,749

Greenville, SC $81,749

Lima, OH $81,679

Wichita, KS $81,670

Tuscaloosa, AL $81,670

Columbia, SC $81,590

Springfield, OH $81,573

Asheville, NC $81,431

Bloomington, IN $81,369

Knoxville, TN $81,051

Shreveport, LA $81,043

Wilmington, NC $80,928

Roanoke, VA $80,928

Topeka, KS $80,769

Frankfort, KY $80,759

Oklahoma City, OK $80,698

Chillicothe, OH $80,663

Longview, TX $80,654

Melbourne, FL $80,645

Sioux Falls, SD $80,504

Mobile, AL $80,495

Terre Haute, IN $80,460

Altoona, PA $80,407

Amarillo, TX $80,345

Killeen, TX $80,318

Fayetteville, AR $80,248

Chattanooga, TN $80,221

Sioux City, IA $80,142

Idaho Falls, ID $80,124

Lynchburg, VA $80,053

Gainesville, FL $79,938

Portsmouth, OH $79,894

Little Rock, AR $79,876

Lafayette, LA $79,841

Youngstown, OH $79,841

Daytona Beach, FL $79,788

Clarksville, TN $79,779

Pensacola, FL $79,770

Temple, TX $79,764

Hopkinsville, KY $79,505

Erie, PA $79,488

Florence, SC $79,452

Charleston, WV $79,311

Great Falls, MT $79,267

Macon, GA $79,143

Tallahassee, FL $79,134

Fayetteville, NC $79,117

Waco, TX $79,099

Helena, MT $79,037

Pine Bluff, AR $79,004

Vincennes, IN $78,896

Lubbock, TX $78,861

Alamogordo, NM $78,808

Twin Falls, ID $78,728

Rapid City, SD $78,702

Jackson, MS $78,543

Huntington, WV $78,536

Greenville, MS $78,534

Parkersburg, WV $78,444

Montgomery, AL $78,428

Wichita Falls, TX $78,339

Springfield, MO $78,339

Biloxi, MS $78,295

Monroe, LA $78,207

Johnstown, PA $78,145

Sumter, SC $78,110

Columbus, GA $78,101

Pascagoula, MS $77,933

Abilene, TX $77,933

Kingsport, TN $77,703

Albany, GA $77,703

Gulfport, MS $77,677

Alexandria, LA $77,385

Fort Smith, AR $77,164

El Paso, TX $76,926

Las Cruces, NM $76,528

Harlingen, TX $76,304

Pocatello, ID $76,290

Florence, AL $76,175

Brownsville, TX $76,157

Mcallen, TX $75,972

Dothan, AL $75,848

Columbus, MS $75,323

Altus, OK $74,912

Lawton, OK $74,744

Pierre, SD $74,426

What Skills Can Increase a Cad Specialist'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 Specialist'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	$95,407	8%
Innovation	$93,640	6%
Analysis	$92,756	5%
Leadership	$92,756	5%
Commitment	$91,873	4%
Collaboration	$91,873	4%

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Cad Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Cad Specialist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Transportation	$114,841	$55.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$97,173	$47.0	10%
Financial Services	$97,173	$47.0	10%
Software & Networking	$95,407	$46.0	8%
Biotechnology	$92,756	$45.0	5%

How Education impacts a Cad Specialist's Salary?

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

Cad Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cad Specialist

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

Understanding how a Cad Specialist'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 July 01, 2026

$79,623

Average $88,339/year

$95,408

$6,635

Average $7,362/month

$7,951

$1,531

Average $1,699/week

$1,835

$38

Average $42/hour

$46

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,408	$7,951	$1,835	$46
Average	$88,339	$7,362	$1,699	$42
25th Percentile	$79,623	$6,635	$1,531	$38

Salaries of jobs related to Cad Specialist

Salary Trends for Cad Specialist

Salaries for a Cad Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $96,763 in 2023 to around $94,518 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cad Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cad Specialist Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$96,763

2024

$95,694

2025

$94,518

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$96,763
2024	$95,694
2025	$94,518
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Cad Specialist

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401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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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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