Commercial and Industrial Designers
Commercial and Industrial Designers (SOC 27-1021) earn a median $83,910 a year ($40.34 an hour) in the United States, with 33,490 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Kansas.
What commercial and industrial designers do
Commercial and industrial designers design and develop manufactured products such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys, blending artistic talent with research on how products are used, marketed, and made, to produce the most functional and appealing design. They prepare sketches, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, modify and refine designs using working models to meet customer specifications, and evaluate the feasibility of ideas on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, and production costs and methods. They confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments and with customers, present designs and reports for approval, and oversee the making of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings. Alternate titles include automobile designer, bicycle designer, boat designer, and bank note designer. Graphic designers, who work on graphics, and fashion designers, who design clothing, are counted separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Art Glass Designer, Automobile Designer, Bank Note Designer, Bicycle Designer, Bike Designer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.70 | $31.95 | $40.34 | $52.43 | $67.20 | $44.84 | 33,490 |
| Annual | $53,460 | $66,450 | $83,910 | $109,050 | $139,770 | $93,260 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where commercial and industrial designers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $29.13 | $40.06 | $50.42 | $65.11 | $78.45 | $53.48 | 260 | 0.18 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $60,590 | $83,310 | $104,870 | $135,420 | $163,180 | $111,230 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $23.96 | $33.32 | $49.12 | $60.08 | $66.27 | $47.17 | 2,930 | 0.67 | 3.09 |
| Annual | $49,830 | $69,300 | $102,160 | $124,960 | $137,850 | $98,110 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $36.55 | $39.21 | $48.90 | $61.64 | $72.11 | $51.41 | 1,240 | 0.34 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $76,010 | $81,570 | $101,720 | $128,200 | $149,990 | $106,940 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $27.80 | $37.62 | $48.62 | $60.41 | $66.15 | $48.38 | 190 | 0.38 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $57,810 | $78,250 | $101,140 | $125,650 | $137,580 | $100,630 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $30.22 | $36.57 | $48.45 | $64.04 | $81.00 | $52.12 | 5,300 | 0.29 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $62,860 | $76,060 | $100,770 | $133,190 | $168,490 | $108,400 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.22 | $36.57 | $48.45 | $64.04 | $81.00 | $52.12 | 5,300 | 0.29 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $62,860 | $76,060 | $100,770 | $133,190 | $168,490 | $108,400 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $23.96 | $33.32 | $49.12 | $60.08 | $66.27 | $47.17 | 2,930 | 0.67 | 3.09 |
| Annual | $49,830 | $69,300 | $102,160 | $124,960 | $137,850 | $98,110 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $28.44 | $34.51 | $43.10 | $59.69 | $77.11 | $48.65 | 2,400 | 0.25 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $59,160 | $71,790 | $89,640 | $124,150 | $160,380 | $101,190 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,350 | 0.17 | 0.78 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $24.73 | $28.83 | $37.85 | $40.68 | $58.00 | $39.31 | 1,990 | 0.20 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $51,440 | $59,960 | $78,720 | $84,610 | $120,640 | $81,770 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $40.07 | $52.89 | $67.94 | $92.43 | $101.49 | $71.56 | 410 | 0.36 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $83,340 | $110,000 | $141,310 | $192,240 | $211,100 | $148,840 | ||||
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | Hourly | $25.36 | $34.90 | $57.45 | $85.98 | $106.73 | $60.07 | 80 | 0.31 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $52,750 | $72,600 | $119,490 | $178,840 | $222,010 | $124,950 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $30.73 | $38.48 | $54.30 | $54.30 | $65.43 | $49.04 | 420 | 0.09 | 0.43 |
| Annual | $63,920 | $80,040 | $112,950 | $112,950 | $136,090 | $102,010 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $26.66 | $39.87 | $52.01 | $62.33 | $73.18 | $50.52 | 1,760 | 0.92 | 4.29 |
| Annual | $55,460 | $82,920 | $108,180 | $129,640 | $152,220 | $105,080 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $19.09 | $35.80 | $51.92 | $51.92 | $75.00 | $47.70 | 80 | 0.41 | 1.88 |
| Annual | $39,710 | $74,470 | $107,990 | $107,990 | $156,010 | $99,210 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.36 | $36.25 | $45.62 | $58.16 | $74.62 | $48.67 | 2,560 | 0.27 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $63,140 | $75,400 | $94,890 | $120,960 | $155,210 | $101,220 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $30.19 | $35.71 | $46.28 | $63.00 | $77.95 | $50.62 | 2,080 | 0.33 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $62,800 | $74,270 | $96,260 | $131,050 | $162,140 | $105,280 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $26.66 | $39.87 | $52.01 | $62.33 | $73.18 | $50.52 | 1,760 | 0.92 | 4.29 |
| Annual | $55,460 | $82,920 | $108,180 | $129,640 | $152,220 | $105,080 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $35.39 | $38.23 | $50.00 | $56.20 | $78.37 | $52.67 | 1,250 | 0.53 | 2.45 |
| Annual | $73,610 | $79,520 | $104,000 | $116,890 | $163,010 | $109,560 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $37.03 | $39.43 | $49.29 | $63.49 | $77.58 | $52.10 | 1,020 | 0.38 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $77,020 | $82,020 | $102,530 | $132,050 | $161,370 | $108,370 | ||||
Top industries employing commercial and industrial designers
Management of Companies and Enterprises employ 11.4% of commercial and industrial designers nationally (3,820 jobs) at a median $101,570 a year ($48.83 an hour), followed by Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (11.2%) and Specialized Design Services (7.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 3,820 | 11.4% | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services NAICS 541300 | 3,750 | 11.2% | $97,730 | $46.98 |
| Specialized Design Services NAICS 541400 | 2,590 | 7.7% | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 2,160 | 6.4% | $80,080 | $38.50 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing NAICS 339900 | 1,580 | 4.7% | $76,060 | $36.57 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (33,490). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,030 for commercial and industrial designers in May 2021 and $83,910 in May 2025, with employment of 27,940 and 33,490.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,030 | $37.03 | 27,940 |
| May 2022 | $75,910 | $36.50 | 30,450 |
| May 2023 | $76,250 | $36.66 | 30,810 |
| May 2024 | $79,450 | $38.20 | 30,250 |
| May 2025 | $83,910 | $40.34 | 33,490 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
44 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas profile | $50.42 | $104,870 | $60,590 | $163,180 | 260 | 0.18 | 0.84 |
| 2 | Michigan profile | $49.12 | $102,160 | $49,830 | $137,850 | 2,930 | 0.67 | 3.09 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $48.90 | $101,720 | $76,010 | $149,990 | 1,240 | 0.34 | 1.58 |
| 4 | Rhode Island profile | $48.62 | $101,140 | $57,810 | $137,580 | 190 | 0.38 | 1.76 |
| 5 | California profile | $48.45 | $100,770 | $62,860 | $168,490 | 5,300 | 0.29 | 1.35 |
| 6 | Louisiana profile | $47.13 | $98,040 | $44,580 | $131,380 | 130 | 0.07 | 0.32 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $45.37 | $94,370 | $59,550 | $127,970 | 590 | 0.20 | 0.93 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $45.33 | $94,280 | $62,390 | $153,910 | 340 | 0.10 | 0.44 |
| 9 | Arkansas profile | $44.49 | $92,540 | $63,840 | $141,140 | 230 | 0.17 | 0.80 |
| 10 | Georgia profile | $43.92 | $91,360 | $55,380 | $149,910 | 360 | 0.07 | 0.34 |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $43.55 | $90,590 | $39,710 | $137,320 | 400 | 0.14 | 0.65 |
| 12 | New Jersey profile | $43.42 | $90,310 | $59,550 | $134,580 | 1,230 | 0.29 | 1.33 |
| 13 | New York profile | $43.10 | $89,640 | $59,160 | $160,380 | 2,400 | 0.25 | 1.15 |
| 14 | Indiana profile | $42.33 | $88,040 | $56,850 | $117,750 | 1,110 | 0.35 | 1.61 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $39.72 | $82,610 | $48,360 | $131,680 | 770 | 0.13 | 0.59 |
| 16 | Virginia profile | $39.53 | $82,230 | $59,080 | $101,270 | 1,480 | 0.36 | 1.67 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $39.09 | $81,300 | $36,800 | $107,760 | 160 | 0.10 | 0.44 |
| 18 | Idaho profile | $38.81 | $80,730 | $54,680 | $125,420 | 180 | 0.21 | 0.99 |
| 19 | Vermont profile | $38.79 | $80,690 | $63,590 | $154,800 | 120 | 0.38 | 1.77 |
| 20 | North Carolina profile | $38.76 | $80,620 | $48,830 | $134,040 | 1,000 | 0.20 | 0.94 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $38.75 | $80,590 | $62,850 | $118,070 | 820 | 0.28 | 1.30 |
| 22 | Ohio profile | $38.21 | $79,470 | $50,560 | $126,330 | 1,190 | 0.22 | 1.00 |
| 23 | Florida profile | $37.85 | $78,720 | $51,440 | $120,640 | 1,990 | 0.20 | 0.93 |
| 24 | South Carolina profile | $37.16 | $77,300 | $33,580 | $125,090 | 810 | 0.35 | 1.63 |
| 25 | Oregon profile | $37.01 | $76,970 | $52,990 | $122,810 | 480 | 0.24 | 1.13 |
| 26 | Nevada profile | $36.87 | $76,680 | $38,240 | $157,910 | 210 | 0.13 | 0.62 |
| 27 | Oklahoma profile | $36.85 | $76,640 | $48,930 | $122,370 | 240 | 0.14 | 0.64 |
| 28 | Arizona profile | $36.74 | $76,420 | $48,620 | $183,880 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.24 |
| 29 | Kentucky profile | $36.59 | $76,100 | $51,020 | $104,900 | 420 | 0.21 | 0.98 |
| 30 | Missouri profile | $36.27 | $75,440 | $44,780 | $136,980 | 270 | 0.09 | 0.43 |
| 31 | New Hampshire profile | $35.60 | $74,050 | $47,330 | $138,200 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.73 |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $35.11 | $73,030 | $61,970 | $121,530 | 110 | 0.16 | 0.73 |
| 33 | Montana profile | $35.09 | $72,990 | $46,740 | $94,780 | 60 | 0.11 | 0.51 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $34.41 | $71,570 | $50,000 | $106,520 | 90 | 0.09 | 0.39 |
| 35 | Tennessee profile | $34.25 | $71,230 | $45,330 | $108,430 | 750 | 0.23 | 1.06 |
| 36 | Maryland profile | $34.07 | $70,870 | $43,940 | $106,750 | 490 | 0.18 | 0.82 |
| 37 | Iowa profile | $33.85 | $70,420 | $51,690 | $94,570 | 440 | 0.28 | 1.31 |
| 38 | Alabama profile | $30.60 | $63,640 | $45,430 | $93,030 | 130 | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| 39 | New Mexico profile | $30.15 | $62,710 | $45,470 | $109,760 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.59 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $30.11 | $62,620 | $43,130 | $120,000 | 480 | 0.28 | 1.29 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $28.90 | $60,110 | $43,840 | $78,850 | 190 | 0.42 | 1.95 |
| – | Illinois profile | * | * | * | * | 480 | 0.08 | 0.37 |
| – | Maine profile | * | * | * | * | 200 | 0.31 | 1.42 |
| – | Texas profile | * | * | * | * | 2,350 | 0.17 | 0.78 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1021 Commercial and Industrial Designers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.