UK CAD Designer Salary Guide 2026
Understanding the average CAD designer salary in the UK 2026 is essential for candidates and employers alike. Salaries vary widely depending on experience, industry and CAD software expertise.
Overall, the average CAD professional salary in the UK sits around £44,100 per year, with continued growth compared to 2025 figures.
Below you’ll find detailed salary bands (for graduate/entry level, mid‑weight and experienced roles) across key CAD platforms: SolidWorks, CATIA V5, Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, Solid Edge, Fusion 360, NX and Onshape.
UK CAD Salaries by Software Type
Average Salaries by CAD Specialism (Annual)
CAD Software | Graduate / Entry Level | Mid-Weight | Experienced / Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
SolidWorks Designer | £28,000 - £35,000 | £35,000 - £45,000 | £45,000 - £55,000+ |
CATIA V5 Designer | £30,000 - £38,000 | £38,000 - £48,000 | £48,000 - £60,000+ |
Inventor Designer | £27,000 - £35,000 | £35,000 - £45,000 | £45,000 - £55,000 |
AutoCAD Designer | £25,000 - £32,000 | £32,000 - £40,000 | £40,000 - £50,000 |
Solid Edge Designer | £26,000 - £33,000 | £33,000 - £42,000 | £42,000 - £52,000 |
Fusion 360 Designer | £26,000 - £33,000 | £33,000 - £42,000 | £42,000 - £50,000 |
NX Designer | £30,000 - £38,000 | £38,000 - £50,000 | £50,000 - £65,000 |
Onshape Designer | £25,000 - £32,000 | £32,000 - £40,000 | £40,000 - £50,000 |
PTC Creo Desigber | £28,000 - £36,000 | £36,000 - £48,000 | £48,000 - £60,000+ |
Revit Designer | £25,000 - £32,000 | £32,000 - £42,000 | £42,000 - £55,000 |
*Note: These salary ranges are indicative UK benchmarks for 2026, based on aggregated data from multiple salary sources, employer surveys and reported salary figures.
SolidWorks Designer Salary Guide
One of the most common searches in the CAD job market is SolidWorks designer salary UK 2026. Salaries rise significantly with experience and software proficiency.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level SolidWorks Designer | £28,000 - £35,000 |
Mid-Weight SolidWorks Designer | £35,000 - £45,000 |
Experienced / Senior SolidWorks Designer | £45,000 - £55,000+ |
Trend: Employers value SolidWorks expertise in product design and manufacturing environments.
CATIA Designer Salary Guide
Global industries such as aerospace and automotive often use CATIA, and roles in these sectors command competitive pay.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level CATIA | £30,000 - £38,000 |
Mid-Weight CATIA | £38,000 - £48,000 |
Experienced / Senior CATIA | £48,000 - £60,000+ |
Insight: According to salary data for Catia designers, average UK earnings are around the mid‑£30k range, with experienced specialists earning significantly more.
Autodesk Inventor Designer Salary Guide
Autodesk Inventor is widely used in mechanical and industrial design engineering.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level Inventor Designer | £27,000 - £35,000 |
Mid-Weight Inventor Designer | £35,000 - £45,000 |
Experienced / Senior Inventor Designer | £45,000 - £55,000 |
Market Notes: Job ads and salary ranges for Inventor users typically sit within these bands for engineering CAD roles.
AutoCAD Designer Salary Guide
AutoCAD remains a backbone for CAD workflows in architecture and engineering.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level AutoCAD Designer | £25,000 - £32,000 |
Mid-Weight AutoCAD Designer | £32,000 - £40,000 |
Experienced / Senior AutoCAD Designer | £40,000 - £50,000 |
Market Observation: Broader CAD designer salary data places the baseline for CAD roles in this range, with AutoCAD commonly at the foundation of many technical CAD jobs.
Solid Edge Designer Salary Guide
Solid Edge specialists, especially in industries like manufacturing and product design, earn similarly to other mid‑tier CAD roles.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level Solid Edge | £26,000 - £33,000 |
Mid-Weight Solid Edge | £33,000 - £42,000 |
Experienced / Senior Solid Edge | £42,000 - £52,000 |
Note: While overall data on Solid Edge roles in the UK is less widely published, market salary patterns for CAD roles provide a reliable proxy.
Fusion 360 Designer Salary Guide
Fusion 360 continues to grow in popularity, particularly for integrated modelling and CAM.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level Fusion 360 | £26,000 - £33,000 |
Mid-Weight Fusion 360 | £33,000 - £42,000 |
Experienced / Senior Fusion 360 | £42,000 - £50,000 |
According to UK job data, Fusion 360 salaries often cluster mid‑range around £35k‑£38k for roles requiring this skillset.
NX Designer Salary Guide
NX (Siemens NX) is commonly used in high‑end manufacturing and engineering environments.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level NX Designer | £30,000 - £38,000 |
Mid?Weight NX Designer | £38,000 - £50,000 |
Experienced / Senior NX Designer | £50,000 - £65,000 |
Insight: NX skills are often associated with sectors like automotive and aerospace, where pay premiums are typical due to complexity of work.
Onshape Designer Salary
Onshape is increasingly used, especially in collaborative and cloud‑based CAD workflows.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level Onshape | £25,000 - £32,000 |
Mid-Weight Onshape Designer | £32,000 - £40,000 |
Experienced / Senior Onshape Designer | £40,000 - £50,000 |
Market Trend: Salaries for Onshape roles tend to align with other general CAD designer salaries, often reflecting transferable CAD competencies.
PTC Creo Designer Salary Guide
PTC Creo is widely used in advanced manufacturing and mechanical design. Salaries are competitive for experienced designers, especially in industries like automotive and industrial equipment.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level PTC Creo Designer | £28,000 - £36,000 |
Mid-Weight PTC Creo Designer | £36,000 - £48,000 |
Experienced / Senior PTC Creo Designer | £48,000 - £60,000+ |
Notes: PTC Creo skills are highly valued in mechanical engineering roles and command a premium, particularly for experienced users in large-scale industrial projects.
Revit Designer Salary Guide
Revit is primarily used in architecture, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing), and construction projects. Salaries vary depending on experience and industry sector.
Experience | Typical UK Salary |
|---|---|
Graduate / Entry Level Revit Designer | £25,000 - £32,000 |
Mid-Weight Revit Designer | £32,000 - £42,000 |
Experienced / Senior Revit Designer | £42,000 - £55,000 |
Notes: Revit designers working in commercial or large-scale construction projects often command higher salaries, particularly when combined with BIM (Building Information Modelling) experience.
Key Factors That Affect CAD Salaries
1. Experience & Seniority
Entry roles start lower, but CAD professionals with several years’ experience — especially in specialised tools like NX or CATIA V5 — can command strong premiums.
2. Industry Sector
Aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing roles typically pay more for CAD expertise than smaller product design shops or general draughting positions.
3. Location
London and the South East often offer higher salaries compared with other UK regions, due to demand and cost‑of‑living differences.
4. Software Proficiency
Specialised CAD software skills (e.g., CATIA, NX) are often more valued than generalist CAD software alone.
Summary: UK CAD Salaries 2026
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The average CAD designer salary in the UK 2026 is increasing year‑on‑year.
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Specialist CAD disciplines like CATIA and NX designers tend to command higher pay due to industry demand.
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Tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Solid Edge and Onshape sit in solid mid‑range salary bands, with strong growth potential for experienced designers.