As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cad Specialist in Illinois is $90,044 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.
However, a Cad Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Cad Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $97,249 | $8,104 | $1,870 | $47 |
| Average | $90,044 | $7,504 | $1,732 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,160 | $6,763 | $1,561 | $39 |
Allen + Shariff Corporation - Chicago, IL
Butler America Aerospace L.L.C. - Chicago, IL
Aesthetic Oral Arts Dental Laboratory - LIVINGSTON, MT
Vibrant Minds - Applied Behavioral Pediatrics - MEDFORD, OR
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist | $65,768 |
| CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist | $74,878 |
| Cad Speci... Level Cad Specialist | $90,661 |
| CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist | $117,169 |
| CAD Draft... Level Cad Specialist | $137,284 |
What Am I Worth?
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:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $117,058 | $56.0 | 30% |
| Energy & Utilities | $99,049 | $48.0 | 10% |
| Financial Services | $99,049 | $48.0 | 10% |
| Software & Networking | $97,248 | $47.0 | 8% |
| Biotechnology | $94,547 | $45.0 | 5% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $97,249 | $8,104 | $1,870 | $47 |
| Average | $90,044 | $7,504 | $1,732 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,160 | $6,763 | $1,561 | $39 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Cad Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
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