How much do Commercial and Industrial Designers make?
The median pay for Commercial and Industrial Designers in the United States is $83,910 per year — about $40.34 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $53,460, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $139,770.
That is $22,520 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary range by percentile
Half of all Commercial and Industrial Designers earn between $66,450 and $109,050 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,460 | $25.70 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $66,450 | $31.95 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $83,910 | $40.34 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $109,050 | $52.43 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,770 | $67.20 |
Highest-paying states for Commercial and Industrial Designers
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Kansas leads the country for Commercial and Industrial Designers pay at $104,870 a year, followed by Michigan ($102,160) and Massachusetts ($101,720). At the other end, South Dakota posts the lowest median at $60,110 — a gap of $44,760 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | $104,870 | $50.42 | +25% |
| 2 | Michigan | $102,160 | $49.12 | +22% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $101,720 | $48.90 | +21% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $101,140 | $48.63 | +21% |
| 5 | California | $100,770 | $48.45 | +20% |
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 41 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 33,000 people work as Commercial and Industrial Designers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $93,260 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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