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Average AutoCAD Drafter Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An autocad drafter in United Kingdom earns about 36,900 GBP a year. That's 47% below the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 19,100 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 60,100 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an autocad drafter make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
36,900 GBP
3,075 GBP per month
Lowest reported
19,100 GBP
1,591 GBP per month
Highest reported
60,100 GBP
5,008 GBP per month

A typical autocad drafter working in United Kingdom brings home around 3,075 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 19,100 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 60,100 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior autocad drafter working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the autocad drafter salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How autocad drafter pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all autocad drafters in United Kingdom earn less than 39,800 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 25,800 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 55,100 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of autocad drafters sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 19,100 GBP. The highest stretch to 60,100 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

19,100
Low
39,800
Median
60,100
High
25,800
25th
55,100
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Autocad drafter pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an autocad drafter in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical autocad drafter salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    20,500 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +26% from previous
    25,800 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +53% from previous
    39,600 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +18% from previous
    46,700 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +10% from previous
    51,400 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +12% from previous
    57,800 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 53%. That is the point at which a autocad drafter typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Autocad drafter pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving autocad drafter pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average autocad drafter salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    23,800 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +89% from previous
    45,000 GBP

Autocad drafter gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male autocad drafters in United Kingdom earn an average of 40,500 GBP a year, while female autocad drafters earn around 36,800 GBP. That works out to a 10% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

AutoCAD Drafter gender pay gap

9%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 40,500 GBP
Women 36,800 GBP

Pay raises for an autocad drafter in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 11% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 9% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Autocad drafter bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

35%

35% of autocad drafters in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an autocad drafter a low-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary. The remaining 65% of autocad drafters reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Autocad drafter: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Autocad drafter salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Autocad drafter pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Glasgow
  • Leeds
  • Birmingham
  • London
  • Manchester
  • Sheffield
  • Coventry
  • Bradford
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion73,200 GBP78,200 GBP35,100-116,400 GBP
ScotlandRegion53,300 GBP56,400 GBP24,200-86,100 GBP
GlasgowCity45,100 GBP48,600 GBP18,200-69,400 GBP
LeedsCity45,100 GBP48,600 GBP18,200-69,400 GBP
BirminghamCity43,500 GBP47,600 GBP20,000-68,800 GBP
LondonCity43,500 GBP47,600 GBP20,000-68,800 GBP
ManchesterCity42,800 GBP46,400 GBP19,100-66,400 GBP
SheffieldCity42,800 GBP46,400 GBP19,100-66,400 GBP
CoventryCity42,400 GBP45,600 GBP19,200-64,400 GBP
BradfordCity42,400 GBP45,600 GBP19,200-64,400 GBP
BristolCity42,300 GBP46,100 GBP20,400-70,100 GBP
LiverpoolCity42,300 GBP46,100 GBP20,400-70,100 GBP
NewcastleCity42,000 GBP45,000 GBP20,200-63,700 GBP
BelfastCity42,000 GBP45,000 GBP20,200-63,700 GBP
BrightonCity41,700 GBP44,900 GBP17,900-65,200 GBP
DerbyCity41,700 GBP44,900 GBP17,900-65,200 GBP
CardiffCity41,400 GBP46,200 GBP18,900-66,900 GBP
LeicesterCity41,400 GBP46,200 GBP18,900-66,900 GBP
SomersetCity40,300 GBP45,200 GBP17,800-65,800 GBP
EdinburghCity40,300 GBP45,200 GBP17,800-65,800 GBP
SouthamptonCity40,000 GBP44,300 GBP17,100-61,200 GBP
SwanseaCity40,000 GBP44,300 GBP17,100-61,200 GBP
NottinghamCity39,800 GBP42,700 GBP19,200-67,000 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity39,800 GBP42,700 GBP19,200-67,000 GBP
PortsmouthCity39,600 GBP42,700 GBP19,200-61,800 GBP
AberdeenCity39,600 GBP42,700 GBP19,200-61,800 GBP
ArmaghCity39,100 GBP42,400 GBP18,600-62,600 GBP
OxfordCity39,100 GBP42,400 GBP18,600-62,600 GBP
WolverhamptonCity38,000 GBP43,400 GBP19,000-63,900 GBP
PlymouthCity38,000 GBP43,400 GBP19,000-63,900 GBP
YorkCity37,900 GBP41,400 GBP19,300-63,200 GBP
PeterboroughCity37,900 GBP41,400 GBP19,300-63,200 GBP
CambridgeCity37,300 GBP39,300 GBP18,400-59,800 GBP
GloucesterCity37,300 GBP39,300 GBP18,400-59,800 GBP
DundeeCity36,900 GBP39,800 GBP19,100-60,100 GBP
NewportCity36,900 GBP39,800 GBP19,100-60,100 GBP
ExeterCity36,700 GBP41,700 GBP16,900-60,900 GBP
NorwichCity36,700 GBP41,700 GBP16,900-60,900 GBP
PooleCity36,400 GBP42,000 GBP16,000-61,400 GBP
LincolnCity36,400 GBP42,000 GBP16,000-61,400 GBP
WakefieldCity36,000 GBP36,800 GBP17,500-58,600 GBP
ChesterCity36,000 GBP36,800 GBP17,500-58,600 GBP
TruroCity35,300 GBP35,200 GBP17,000-52,800 GBP
AbingdonCity35,300 GBP35,200 GBP17,000-52,800 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion35,100 GBP35,600 GBP16,300-56,100 GBP
CanterburyCity35,100 GBP35,600 GBP16,300-56,100 GBP
InvernessCity35,100 GBP35,600 GBP16,300-56,100 GBP
WalesRegion34,900 GBP40,500 GBP15,700-57,100 GBP
HartlepoolCity34,900 GBP40,500 GBP15,700-57,100 GBP
StirlingCity34,900 GBP40,500 GBP15,700-57,100 GBP
DerryCity34,800 GBP39,800 GBP15,300-58,500 GBP
NewryCity34,800 GBP39,800 GBP15,300-58,500 GBP
DurhamCity34,300 GBP39,400 GBP16,400-55,200 GBP
LisburnCity34,300 GBP39,400 GBP16,400-55,200 GBP
WellsCity34,000 GBP34,900 GBP13,500-53,300 GBP
KirkwallCity34,000 GBP34,900 GBP13,500-53,300 GBP
RiponCity34,000 GBP35,000 GBP14,200-52,800 GBP
BangorCity34,000 GBP35,000 GBP14,200-52,800 GBP
SalisburyCity33,800 GBP39,500 GBP15,500-54,100 GBP
WinchesterCity33,800 GBP39,500 GBP15,500-54,100 GBP
StromnessCity32,900 GBP36,000 GBP17,100-53,300 GBP
StrontianCity32,900 GBP34,300 GBP13,100-51,300 GBP
St DavidsCity32,900 GBP36,000 GBP17,100-53,300 GBP

AutoCAD Drafter in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an autocad drafter make per month in United Kingdom?

    An autocad drafter in United Kingdom earns about 3,075 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 36,900 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an autocad drafter in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level autocad drafters in United Kingdom start near 19,100 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 60,100 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 25,800 and 55,100 GBP.

  • Is the median autocad drafter salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 39,800 GBP, higher than the average of 36,900 GBP. Half of autocad drafters in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for autocad drafters in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an autocad drafter in United Kingdom earn around 10% more than women on average (40,500 vs 36,800 GBP a year).

  • Do autocad drafters in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 35% of autocad drafters in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 0% to 4% of base salary.

  • Do autocad drafters earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an autocad drafter about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do autocad drafters in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An autocad drafter in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 11% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 9% a year.