Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in the U.S.
Commercial and Industrial Designers in the U.S. earn a median of $83,910 a year ($40.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,770 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $93,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial and industrial designers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,460 | $25.70 |
| 25th percentile | $66,450 | $31.95 |
| Median | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| 75th percentile | $109,050 | $52.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,770 | $67.20 |
| Average (mean) | $93,260 | $44.84 |
Half of commercial and industrial designers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,992.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,496.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,227.31 |
| Weekly | $1,613.65 |
| Hourly | $40.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,910 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $104,870 | 260 |
| Michigan | $102,160 | 2,930 |
| Massachusetts | $101,720 | 1,240 |
| Rhode Island | $101,140 | 190 |
| California | $100,770 | 5,300 |
| Louisiana | $98,040 | 130 |
| Minnesota | $94,370 | 590 |
| Washington | $94,280 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $92,540 | 230 |
| Georgia | $91,360 | 360 |
| Colorado | $90,590 | 400 |
| New Jersey | $90,310 | 1,230 |
| New York | $89,640 | 2,400 |
| Indiana | $88,040 | 1,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,610 | 770 |
| Virginia | $82,230 | 1,480 |
| Connecticut | $81,300 | 160 |
| Idaho | $80,730 | 180 |
| Vermont | $80,690 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $80,620 | 1,000 |
| Wisconsin | $80,590 | 820 |
| Ohio | $79,470 | 1,190 |
| Florida | $78,720 | 1,990 |
| South Carolina | $77,300 | 810 |
| Oregon | $76,970 | 480 |
| Nevada | $76,680 | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $76,640 | 240 |
| Arizona | $76,420 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $76,100 | 420 |
| Missouri | $75,440 | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $74,050 | 110 |
| West Virginia | $73,030 | 110 |
| Montana | $72,990 | 60 |
| Nebraska | $71,570 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $71,230 | 750 |
| Maryland | $70,870 | 490 |
| Iowa | $70,420 | 440 |
| Alabama | $63,640 | 130 |
| New Mexico | $62,710 | 110 |
| Utah | $62,620 | 480 |
| South Dakota | $60,110 | 190 |
Best-paying metro areas for commercial and industrial designers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $141,310 | 410 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $119,490 | 80 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $112,950 | 420 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $108,180 | 1,760 |
| Boulder, CO | $107,990 | 80 |
| Wichita, KS | $105,180 | 170 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $104,980 | 270 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,210 | 30 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $104,000 | 1,250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $102,530 | 1,020 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $100,520 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,650 | 430 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $98,260 | 40 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $98,220 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $96,260 | 2,080 |
Metro areas with the most commercial and industrial designers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,560 | $94,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,080 | $96,260 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,760 | $108,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,250 | $104,000 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,020 | $102,530 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 700 | $80,690 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 690 | $86,920 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 500 | $88,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 490 | $89,190 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 480 | $94,390 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 450 | $80,590 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 430 | $99,650 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 420 | $112,950 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 410 | $141,310 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 360 | $79,820 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Art Director | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial and industrial designers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for commercial and industrial designers in the U.S. is $83,910 a year, or $40.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial and industrial designers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of commercial and industrial designers in the U.S. earn at least $139,770 a year. The top 25% earn $109,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial and industrial designers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,460 a year, and a quarter of commercial and industrial designers earn $66,450 or less.
How many commercial and industrial designers work in the U.S.?
About 33,490 commercial and industrial designers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.