Commercial and Industrial Designers earn a median of $83,910 per year ($40.34/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.4% through 2035, with about 2,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1021
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Commercial and Industrial Designer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $83,910a year, or $40.34/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $53KTop 10% $140K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,80035,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202535.4K
- Projected 203536.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 35.4K Projected 2035 36.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school4.3%
- Certificate0.3%
- Some college15.2%
- Associate's12.3%
- Bachelor's67.9%
Highest education held by commercial and industrial designers Segment Value High school 4.3% Certificate 0.3% Some college 15.2% Associate's 12.3% Bachelor's 67.9%
Also advertised as: Design Engineer, Designer, Industrial Designer, Mechanical Designer, Mold Designer, Product Design Engineer.
Pay
How much do Commercial and Industrial Designers make?
Every commercial and industrial designer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$83,910
Middle half earn $66,450 to $109,050
- 10th
- $53,460
- 25th
- $66,450
- 75th
- $109,050
- 90th
- $139,770
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,460 |
| 25th | $66,450 |
| Median | $83,910 |
| 75th | $109,050 |
| 90th | $139,770 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $83,910
- Median hourly wage
- $40.34/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $93,260
- People employed
- 33,490
Versus all US occupations
At $83,910, Commercial and Industrial Designers earn 65% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $32,930 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 23% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $139,770 or more while the bottom 10% earn $53,460, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 64% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Kansas pays the most at $104,870, and still leads at $116,434 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Commercial and Industrial Designers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kansas | $104,870 | $116,434 | 260 |
| 2Michigan | $102,160 | $106,177 | 2,930 |
| 3Massachusetts | $101,720 | $96,183 | 1,240 |
| 4Rhode Island | $101,140 | $98,885 | 190 |
| 5California | $100,770 | $91,013 | 5,300 |
| 6Louisiana | $98,040 | $111,148 | 130 |
| 7Minnesota | $94,370 | $95,690 | 590 |
| 8Washington | $94,280 | $88,101 | 340 |
| 9Arkansas | $92,540 | $106,445 | 230 |
| 10Georgia | $91,360 | $94,877 | 360 |
Job outlook
Is Commercial and Industrial Designer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | +2.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Commercial and Industrial Designers to change 2.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,800 openings are projected each year, 7.9% of the 35,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite limited employment growth, about 2,800 openings for industrial designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The need for new and innovative designs, especially for high-tech products, is expected to support demand for industrial designers. However, projected employment declines in some manufacturing industries may dampen employment growth.
Getting in
How to become a Commercial and Industrial Designer
Industrial designers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. They also need an electronic portfolio with examples of their design projects.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as commercial and industrial designers.
- Bachelor's Degree67.9%
- Some College Courses15.2%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree12.3%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)4.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 67.9% |
| Some College Courses | 15.2% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 12.3% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Commercial and Industrial Designer do?
Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. They combine art, business, and engineering to make products that people use every day. Industrial designers consider the function, aesthetics, production costs, and usability of products when developing new product concepts.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
- Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
- Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
- Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
- Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
- Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using, and maintaining it.
- Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
- Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Industrial designers who are self-employed or work for firms that hire them out to other organizations may need to adjust their workdays frequently in order to meet with clients in the evenings or on weekends. In addition, they may spend some of their time looking for new projects or competing with other designers for contracts.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where commercial and industrial designers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Manufacturing33%
- Wholesale trade13%
- Architectural, engineering, and related services11%
- Management of companies and enterprises10%
- Specialized design services7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 33% |
| Wholesale trade | 13% |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 11% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 10% |
| Specialized design services | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Speaking3.5
- Writing3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Active Learning3.0
- Mathematics2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Operations Analysis3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.1
- Technology Design3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Operations Analysis | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
| Technology Design | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphical user interface development software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Commercial and Industrial Designer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Commercial and Industrial Designer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 6 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Artistic5.5
- Realistic4.6
- Investigative4.1
- Enterprising3.7
- Conventional3.5
- Social1.8
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Commercial and Industrial Designer
O*NET related occupations
- Architecture and Engineering
- Production
- Production
- Production
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Architecture and Engineering
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with commercial and industrial designers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Commercial and Industrial Designer$83,910
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $83,910 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within commercial and industrial designer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Commercial and Industrial Designer appears on
Questions
Commercial and Industrial Designer: frequently asked questions
How much do Commercial and Industrial Designers make?
Commercial and Industrial Designers earn a median of $83,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 65% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $40.34/hr. The middle half earn between $66,450 and $109,050. The top 10% earn $139,770 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Commercial and Industrial Designer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Commercial and Industrial Designers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 67.9% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Commercial and Industrial Designer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Commercial and Industrial Designer do?
Industrial designers develop the concepts for manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and toys. A core O*NET task: prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Commercial and Industrial Designers the most?
The highest state medians for Commercial and Industrial Designers are Kansas ($104,870), Michigan ($102,160), Massachusetts ($101,720) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Commercial and Industrial Designer?
O*NET scores Commercial and Industrial Designers highest on the Artistic, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTP personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.