Commercial and Industrial Designers
SOC code 27-1021 · O*NET-SOC 27-1021.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Commercial and Industrial Designers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$83,910
a year
Hourly
$40.34
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$93,260
$44.84 per hour
Middle 50%
$66,450 – $109,050
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$53,460 – $139,770
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
33,490
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $53,460
- $25.70/hr
- 25th percentile
- $66,450
- $31.95/hr
- Median percentile
- $83,910
- $40.34/hr
- 75th percentile
- $109,050
- $52.43/hr
- 90th percentile
- $139,770
- $67.20/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+3%
Growing about as fast as average
30,600
jobs in 2024
31,600
projected for 2034
About 1,000 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do commercial and industrial designers 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
- Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
- Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
- Develop industrial standards and regulatory guidelines.
- Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
- Coordinate the look and function of product lines.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 68% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree68%
- Some College Courses15%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree12%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)4%
Common questions
How much does a commercial and industrial designers earn?
The national median is $83,910 a year. The full range runs from $53,460 at the 10th percentile to $139,770 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a commercial and industrial designers without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is commercial and industrial designers in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 3% between 2024 and 2034 — growing about as fast as average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
Knowledge areas
- Design4.7/5
- Engineering and Technology4.7/5
- Production and Processing4.0/5
- Mechanical4.0/5
- Computers and Electronics3.9/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Physics3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Operations Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.