Senior CAD/CAM Engineer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$130,000
national median salary
$115,000 to $148,000. Last updated August 2026.
Orbyt prices 4 titles at this same figure: Senior Wind Energy Engineer, Senior Simulation Engineer, Senior CAD/CAM Engineer, and Senior Predictive Maintenance Engineer. Orbyt does not hold title-level wage data that would separate them.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $104,110 for Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) across the United States, based on 296,810 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,990
25th percentile
$84,130
Median
$104,110
75th percentile
$132,590
90th percentile
$164,340
Workers surveyed
296,810
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$102,320
May 2025 release
$104,110
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Mechanical Engineers (SOC 17-2141) rather than Senior CAD/CAM Engineerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 17-2141Highest Paying
$185,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$136,000
St. Louis, MO
Lowest Paying
$101,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 17-2141. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Senior CAD/CAM Engineer salary in the United States at $130,000 in 2026, within a range of $115,000 to $148,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. This figure is not specific to this title: Orbyt prices 4 titles at the same estimate. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $185,000, while St. Louis offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Compensation for Senior CAD/CAM Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack.
Senior CAD/CAM Engineer salary by city.
Skills that increase Senior CAD/CAM Engineer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Senior CAD/CAM Engineers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $18,200 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$18,200 per year
≈ +$16,900 per year
≈ +$15,600 per year
≈ +$14,300 per year
≈ +$14,300 per year
≈ +$13,000 per year
≈ +$13,000 per year
≈ +$11,700 per year
What you should know.
Compensation for Senior CAD/CAM Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack. Signing bonuses near $10K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within engineering disciplines, PE licensure and domain (aerospace, civil, electrical) shift the band significantly; defense-sector clearances add further premium.
Senior CAD/CAM Engineers typically progress Associate → Engineer → Senior → Principal → Fellow over 12 to 20 years, with PE licensure marking the transition to senior levels. Consulting partners and firm ownership are common late-career paths. For Senior CAD/CAM Engineers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Senior CAD/CAM Engineers includes a meaningful signing bonus near $10K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (12% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. Benefits and time-off policies vary by employer; candidates should factor them into offer comparisons alongside cash compensation.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Senior CAD/CAM Engineers typically earn $117,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Senior CAD/CAM Engineer pay.
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