How Much Does a Cad Technician Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$63,520
Cad technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $63,520 a year, or $30.54 an hour. Half of cad technicians earn more than $63,520 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $99,380.
Pay percentiles for cad technicians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $20.88 | $43,420 |
| 25th | $24.83 | $51,650 |
| 50th (median) | $30.54 | $63,520 |
| 75th | $38.32 | $79,700 |
| 90th | $47.78 | $99,380 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Drafters, All Other (SOC 17-3019). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for cad technicians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $77,840 | $37.42 | +23% |
| California | $73,390 | $35.28 | +16% |
| Wisconsin | $73,040 | $35.12 | +15% |
| Washington | $72,800 | $35.00 | +15% |
| New York | $72,190 | $34.71 | +14% |
| Massachusetts | $72,100 | $34.66 | +14% |
| New Hampshire | $70,710 | $34.00 | +11% |
| Arizona | $70,070 | $33.69 | +10% |
| Utah | $69,420 | $33.38 | +9% |
| Louisiana | $68,470 | $32.92 | +8% |
| United States | $63,520 | $30.54 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many cad technicians are there?
BLS counts about 14,470 cad technicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Drafters, All Other”. The most jobs are in Texas (2,450), California (1,750) and Louisiana (1,200).
The mean (average) annual wage is $68,250, higher than the median of $63,520.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,293
- Biweekly
- $2,443
- Weekly
- $1,222
- Daily (8 hours)
- $244
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cad technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for cad technicians is $30.54. The middle 50% earn between $24.83 and $38.32 an hour.
Which state pays cad technicians the most?
New Jersey has the highest median wage for cad technicians at $77,840, +23% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for cad technicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of cad technicians earn less than $43,420 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.