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Structural CAD Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Structural CAD Designer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Structural CAD Designer in the United States is $67,546 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,870
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,296 to $73,996
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,607
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Structural CAD Designer Salaries

A Structural CAD Designer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Structural CAD 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 Structural CAD Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $74,786.
  • California: $74,503.
  • Massachusetts: $73,510.

Top Paying Cities for Structural CAD 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: $85,195
  • San Francisco: $84,262
  • Oakland: $82,487

What Skills Can Increase a Structural CAD Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.05% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
  • Design Thinking (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Developing software solutions to understand and target customer needs in a repetitive process.
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.05%
Product Development 2.27%
Design Thinking 1.61%
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 Structural CAD Designer's salary.

  • Product Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Collaborating: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • UI Design: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Engineering $76,326
13%
Collaborating $75,651
12%
UI Design $74,976
11%
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Structural CAD Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Structural CAD Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Structural CAD Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Structural CAD Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Structural CAD Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$87,809$42.030%
Energy & Utilities$84,432$41.025%
Internet$81,055$39.020%
Pharmaceuticals$81,055$39.020%
Aerospace & Defense$74,300$36.010%

How Education impacts a Structural CAD Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Structural CAD Designers enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Structural CAD Designer with a Associate's Degree is between $63,425 and $67,276).

Structural CAD Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Structural CAD Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.3%
High School 7.3%
Associates 10.6%
Bachelors 71.4%
Masters 10.0%
Doctorate 0.7%
View as Graph

Structural CAD Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Structural CAD 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 September 01, 2026
$61,296
Average $67,546/year
$73,996
$5,108
Average $5,629/month
$6,166
$1,179
Average $1,299/week
$1,423
$29
Average $32/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,996 $6,166 $1,423 $36
Average $67,546 $5,629 $1,299 $32
25th Percentile $61,296 $5,108 $1,179 $29

Most common benefits for Structural CAD Designer

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

Common company salaries for Structural CAD Designer

Here are companies hiring for Structural CAD Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Structural CAD Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Structural CAD Designer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Structural CAD 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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