Commercial and Industrial Designers
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $83,910/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +3.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 2,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
• Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
The median pay for Commercial and Industrial Designers is $83,910 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
Employment for Commercial and Industrial Designers is projected to change +3.2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
About 2,500 openings per year, on average, over the decade.