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The average salary for an AutoCAD Designer is approximately $55,786 per year or $27 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on factors like experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command higher wages.
Entry-level AutoCAD Designers may start at around $45,000, while mid-career professionals can earn between $55,000 and $70,000. Senior-level roles, especially in specialized fields, may see salaries exceeding $80,000.
AutoCAD Designers in states such as California and New York often report the highest salaries, influenced by the cost of living and demand for skilled designers. For instance, salaries in California can reach up to $70,000 annually. In contrast, designers in regions with lower living costs may see salaries in the range of $50,000.
With the increasing demand for skilled design professionals across various industries, AutoCAD Designers can find opportunities in architecture, engineering, and manufacturing. Continuous skill development in software updates and design techniques can further enhance job prospects and salary potential.
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The average autocad designer salary in Rhode Island, New York, and Vermont are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average autocad designer salary states are Idaho, Kansas, and Michigan.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,115 | $30.34 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $63,331 | $30.45 |
| 3 | Illinois | $60,316 | $29.00 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,346 | $30.94 |
| 5 | Oregon | $57,784 | $27.78 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $59,683 | $28.69 |
| 7 | Vermont | $62,905 | $30.24 |
| 8 | Washington | $56,885 | $27.35 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $60,620 | $29.14 |
| 10 | California | $58,814 | $28.28 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $55,616 | $26.74 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $56,335 | $27.08 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $53,783 | $25.86 |
| 14 | Maryland | $59,442 | $28.58 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $57,139 | $27.47 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $53,520 | $25.73 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $55,752 | $26.80 |
| 18 | Indiana | $54,148 | $26.03 |
| 19 | Utah | $51,333 | $24.68 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $54,632 | $26.27 |
| 21 | Arizona | $53,269 | $25.61 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $51,094 | $24.56 |
| 23 | Colorado | $54,242 | $26.08 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $52,893 | $25.43 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $51,961 | $24.98 |
| 26 | Missouri | $52,287 | $25.14 |
| 27 | Nevada | $52,607 | $25.29 |
| 28 | Ohio | $51,072 | $24.55 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $52,009 | $25.00 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $52,492 | $25.24 |
| 31 | Montana | $52,840 | $25.40 |
| 32 | Virginia | $51,918 | $24.96 |
| 33 | Delaware | $53,333 | $25.64 |
| 34 | Iowa | $48,828 | $23.48 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $48,752 | $23.44 |
| 36 | Georgia | $48,428 | $23.28 |
| 37 | Texas | $48,842 | $23.48 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| 39 | Maine | $49,394 | $23.75 |
| 40 | Michigan | $46,783 | $22.49 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $56,105 | $26.97 |
| 42 | Florida | $49,104 | $23.61 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $47,735 | $22.95 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $48,011 | $23.08 |
| 45 | Kansas | $46,822 | $22.51 |
| 46 | Alaska | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $47,743 | $22.95 |
| 48 | Idaho | $47,031 | $22.61 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $44,762 | $21.52 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $44,732 | $21.51 |
| 51 | Alabama | $41,690 | $20.04 |
The highest-paying cities for autocad designers are New York, NY, Chicago, IL, and Irvine, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $63,172 | $30.37 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $60,528 | $29.10 |
| 3 | Irvine, CA | $57,797 | $27.79 |
| 4 | Mishawaka, IN | $55,115 | $26.50 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | $53,325 | $25.64 |
| 6 | Greenville, SC | $52,934 | $25.45 |
| 7 | Centreville, VA | $52,630 | $25.30 |
| 8 | Sioux Falls, SD | $52,596 | $25.29 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $52,584 | $25.28 |
| 10 | Kansas City, MO | $52,161 | $25.08 |
| 11 | Tulsa, OK | $51,947 | $24.97 |
| 12 | Green Bay, WI | $51,377 | $24.70 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $51,329 | $24.68 |
| 14 | Corpus Christi, TX | $49,522 | $23.81 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $49,239 | $23.67 |
| 16 | Des Moines, IA | $48,564 | $23.35 |
| 17 | Alpharetta, GA | $48,501 | $23.32 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $47,794 | $22.98 |
| 19 | Port Huron, MI | $47,281 | $22.73 |
An autocad designer's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $55,786 | $4,649 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of autocad designers are designer, electrical designer, and mechanical designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Internship | $53,914 | $4,493 | $25.92 | 57,981 |
| Drafter | $43,542 | $3,629 | $20.93 | 3,968 |
| Drafting Internship | $42,284 | $3,524 | $20.33 | 51,193 |
| Architectural Draftsman | $52,382 | $4,365 | $25.18 | 5,528 |
| Computer Aided Drafter | $43,520 | $3,627 | $20.92 | 16,907 |
| Architectural Drafter | $49,944 | $4,162 | $24.01 | 7,139 |
Top companies hiring autocad designers now:
Autocad designer salaries at Jacobs Engineering Group and Parsons are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average autocad designer salary at companies like Fishbeck and Stantec are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $62,626 | $30.11 |
| 2 | Parsons | $60,178 | $28.93 |
| 3 | Fishbeck | $59,041 | $28.39 |
| 4 | Stantec | $58,525 | $28.14 |
| 5 | Arseal | $57,368 | $27.58 |
| 6 | CyberCoders | $56,761 | $27.29 |
| 7 | Cree | $56,678 | $27.25 |
| 8 | Colliers Engineering & Design | $56,590 | $27.21 |
| 9 | KBR | $56,292 | $27.06 |
| 10 | Jacobs Enterprises | $56,204 | $27.02 |
| 11 | Chart Industries | $56,045 | $26.94 |
| 12 | Kelly Services | $56,027 | $26.94 |
| 13 | Circle K | $55,972 | $26.91 |
| 14 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $54,998 | $26.44 |
| 15 | St. Clair County Community Mental Health | $53,752 | $25.84 |
| 16 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $52,091 | $25.04 |
| 17 | Chuck E. Cheese | $43,823 | $21.07 |
The average autocad designer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $57,565 | $27.68 |
| 2 | Professional | $56,179 | $27.01 |
| 3 | Technology | $55,797 | $26.83 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $55,225 | $26.55 |
The average autocad designer salary has risen by $9,945 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average autocad designer earned $45,841 annually, but today, they earn $55,786 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for autocad designers over the last decade.
Compare autocad designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare autocad designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,800 | $26.82 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $54,700 | $26.28 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $53,300 | $25.62 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $51,300 | $24.66 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $50,100 | $24.09 | +1.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actalent | Autocad Designer | Tupelo, MS | 06/25/2025 | $58,436 |
| Professional Search of The Carolinas | Autocad Designer Drafter 3D Solidworks | Mason, OH | 06/10/2025 | $100,000 |
| Tectonic MSA | Autocad Designer (Civil, Structural or Solar) | Fine, NY | 06/05/2025 | $52,175 |
| BEPC Inc.-Business Excellence Professional Consulting | Autocad Designer | Tempe, AZ | 05/29/2025 | $60,523 |
| Amped Fitness | Autocad Designer | Pompano Beach, FL | 05/28/2025 | $100,000 |
| Actalent | Autocad Designer | Bellevue, WA | 05/24/2025 | $62,610 |
| Constellation Energy Corp | Designer Autocad | Braceville, IL | 05/22/2025 | $111,000 |
| Koorsen Fire & Security Inc. | Autodesk Autocad Designer | Indianapolis, IN | 04/28/2025 | $58,436 |
| Insight Global | Autocad Designer (MEP or Civil) | Jackson, MS | 04/24/2025 | $41,740 |
| Legence | Autocad Designer (Audio Visual)-AMA Group | New York, NY | 03/29/2025 | $70,000 |
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