CAD Technician Contract Rates in Leeds: Day Rate Quartiles and Demand
Live market telemetry, compensation quartiles, and IR35 compliance benchmarks across the UK contract sector.
Market Conditions and Compensation Trajectory
Operating as an independent CAD Technician contractor in Leeds offers distinct regional financial advantages, effectively balancing competitive local compensation against lower regional operational overheads. Verified local market intelligence establishes an established median day rate of £160/day, registering a -23.1% variance against the broader UK contracting standard. Local quartile analysis reveals an interquartile band from £112/day to £240/day across 21 local CAD Technician vacancies to November 2026. Off-payroll records confirm that 17% of active Leeds assignments maintain confirmed outside-IR35 status. The benchmark dataset rates hiring for CAD Technician contractors in Leeds as moderate: steady rather than stretched.
Daily Rate Quartiles and Market Benchmarks
Day rates and IR35 shares come from the Quality Contracts market benchmark dataset of UK contract postings; sector labels come from vacancies matching this hub. Quartiles use priced roles only.
| Metric | Value | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Median day rate | £160/day | Mid-market advertised pay for this hub |
| 25th percentile (P25) | £112/day | Lower-quartile priced vacancies |
| 75th percentile (P75) | £240/day | Upper-quartile priced vacancies |
| Hiring demand | Moderate | Demand level in the benchmark dataset (Moderate, High or Very High) |
| Outside IR35 share | 17% | Stated limited-company / outside SDS |
| Inside IR35 share | 7% | Stated PAYE / umbrella / inside SDS |
| Undetermined IR35 | 76% | Adverts that omit a published status |
| Leading sector | Engineering (50%) | Largest hiring cluster in the sample |
| Priced sample | 21 roles | Postings with a stated day rate in the benchmark dataset |
| Regional rate band | major-city rate parity | Location pricing context, not an SDS |
Statutory Standards and Frequently Asked Questions
Leeds does not create a special IR35 code for CAD Technician work. The client SDS should name the Leeds workplace and delivery model. An inside finding on a Leeds CAD Technician brief typically deducts tax at source, while outside IR35 CAD Technician work in Leeds is billed by a PSC. Local pay sits on major-city rate parity, so a higher Leeds headline rate can still be inside. Commuting into Leeds does not, by itself, prove substitution or lack of control. Read the CAD Technician Leeds contract for workplace, hours, and equipment clauses.
