CAD, drawing and architectural technicians salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£34,465
Typical Annual pay range
Employment patterns
- 90% of CAD, drawing work full-time
- 14% are self-employed
- 99.2% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding CAD, drawing and architectural technicians pay in the UK
The typical cad, drawing and architectural technicians in the UK earns a median salary of £34,465 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of cad, drawing and architectural technicians earnings fall between £29,265 and £42,230 a year. That spread reflects the usual gap between newer entrants and more experienced cad, drawing and architectural technicians.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £36,863. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical cad, drawing and architectural technicians actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 14% of CAD, drawing are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves.
Where you work changes the picture: cad, drawing and architectural technicians pay ranges from £27,098 in Wales up to £42,218 in Yorkshire and the Humber, a difference of £15,120 (56%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see cad, drawing and architectural technicians pay in Yorkshire and the Humber or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
Yorkshire and the Humber is the highest-paying region for cad, drawing and architectural technicians at £42,218 — 22% above the UK median. Wales is lowest at £27,098.
UK median £34,465
| Region | Median payUK median £34,465 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £42,218 | £42,218 | £40,683 | +22% |
| North East | £39,724 | £39,724 | £43,513 | +15% |
| South East | £39,290 | £39,290 | £39,529 | +14% |
| South West | £35,682 | £35,682 | £35,423 | +4% |
| East Midlands | £35,322 | £35,322 | £37,402 | +2% |
| Scotland | £33,117 | £33,117 | £34,889 | -4% |
| London | £32,819 | £32,819 | £36,054 | -5% |
| North West | £31,828 | £31,828 | £34,315 | -8% |
| West Midlands | £30,927 | £30,927 | £31,683 | -10% |
| East of England | £30,304 | £30,304 | £32,089 | -12% |
| Wales | £27,098 | £27,098 | £30,295 | -21% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber £42,218 | £42,218Mean £40,683 | +22% |
| North East £39,724 | £39,724Mean £43,513 | +15% |
| South East £39,290 | £39,290Mean £39,529 | +14% |
| South West £35,682 | £35,682Mean £35,423 | +4% |
| East Midlands £35,322 | £35,322Mean £37,402 | +2% |
| Scotland £33,117 | £33,117Mean £34,889 | -4% |
| London £32,819 | £32,819Mean £36,054 | -5% |
| North West £31,828 | £31,828Mean £34,315 | -8% |
| West Midlands £30,927 | £30,927Mean £31,683 | -10% |
| East of England £30,304 | £30,304Mean £32,089 | -12% |
| Wales £27,098 | £27,098Mean £30,295 | -21% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£34,465); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local cad, drawing and architectural technicians pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow cad, drawing and architectural technicians pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for cad, drawing and architectural technicians by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table