27 Series · SOC 27-1021

Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$83,910
Median / year
+5.6%
2024→2025
$139,770
Top 10% earn
+3.2%
Growth '24–'34
33,490
Estimated US jobs

Commercial and Industrial Designers earn a median of $83,910 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $83,910, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $53,460 (10th percentile) to $139,770 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 33,490 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Kansas ($104,870).

27 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

The pay verdict

Commercial and Industrial Designers earn a median of $83,910, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 76% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media, it ranks #5 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.2% by 2034.

$83,910
Median annual wage
Top 24%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#5 of 36
in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
2.6×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Kansas at $104,870. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Commercial and Industrial Designers moved from $68,890 in May 2019 to $83,910 in May 2025 (+21.8%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Commercial and Industrial Designers sits -2.6 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Commercial and Industrial Designers (SOC 27-1021) has a national median of $83,910 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $53,460 to $139,770, and the published mean is $93,260. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 33,490 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 41 state or territory areas and 137 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $79,450 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $83,910 in May 2025, a rise of $4,460 (+5.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,500 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Bachelor's degree as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Kansas pays the highest state median at $104,870, which is +25% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $141,310. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 33,490 jobs Median $83,910/yr

Median Salary

$83,910

per year

Median Hourly

$40.34/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$93,260

average

Employment

33,490

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Commercial and Industrial Designers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$83,910 Top 24% higher than 76% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 (this entry) 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$83,910 · 76th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 27-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Commercial and Industrial Designers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Commercial and Industrial Designers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.2% growth and $83,910 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000$120000 -10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Public Relations Spe… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.8% · Median annual wage: $74750Coaches and Scouts - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.4% · Median annual wage: $47320Graphic Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.1% · Median annual wage: $62960Merchandise Displaye… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $39390Producers and Direct… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.9% · Median annual wage: $90360Editors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.6% · Median annual wage: $77920Interior Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $67190Audio and Video Tech… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58100Art Directors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $114850Interpreters and Tra… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.7% · Median annual wage: $60170Photographers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.8% · Median annual wage: $44660Writers and Authors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.6% · Median annual wage: $76910Technical Writers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.9% · Median annual wage: $90390Floral Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.9% · Median annual wage: $37360News Analysts, Repor… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.9% · Median annual wage: $62200Commercial and Indus… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.2% · Median annual wage: $83910Film and Video Editors - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4% · Median annual wage: $75420Camera Operators, Te… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74990Fashion Designers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2% · Median annual wage: $80960Broadcast Announcers… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.5% · Median annual wage: $47340Broadcast Technicians - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2.8% · Median annual wage: $59570Special Effects Arti… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.6% · Median annual wage: $102030Media and Communicat… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.7% · Median annual wage: $73620Umpires, Referees, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.7% · Median annual wage: $40710
Among 24 27-series occupations with growth data, Commercial and Industrial Designers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.2% growth and $83,910 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Public Relations Spe…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.8%, Median annual wage $74750
  • Coaches and Scouts: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $47320
  • Graphic Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.1%, Median annual wage $62960
  • Merchandise Displaye…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $39390
  • Producers and Direct…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $90360
  • Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.6%, Median annual wage $77920
  • Interior Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $67190
  • Audio and Video Tech…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58100
  • Art Directors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $114850
  • Interpreters and Tra…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $60170
  • Photographers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $44660
  • Writers and Authors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $76910
  • Technical Writers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.9%, Median annual wage $90390
  • Floral Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.9%, Median annual wage $37360
  • News Analysts, Repor…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.9%, Median annual wage $62200
  • Commercial and Indus…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $83910
  • Film and Video Editors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4%, Median annual wage $75420
  • Camera Operators, Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74990
  • Fashion Designers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2%, Median annual wage $80960
  • Broadcast Announcers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $47340
  • Broadcast Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.8%, Median annual wage $59570
  • Special Effects Arti…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.6%, Median annual wage $102030
  • Media and Communicat…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $73620
  • Umpires, Referees, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.7%, Median annual wage $40710

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+3.2%

About as fast as average

Annual Openings

2,500

per year (projected)

Employment Change

+1,000

30,600 (2024) → 31,600 (2034)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

0.6/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

2.3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Commercial and Industrial Designers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Active Listening 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.8
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Speaking 3.5
Operations Analysis 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
Time Management 3.3
Writing 3.1
Monitoring 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Design 4.7
Engineering and Technology 4.7
Production and Processing 4.0
Mechanical 4.0
Computers and Electronics 3.9
Mathematics 3.7
English Language 3.6
Physics 3.1
Sales and Marketing 3.0
Administrative 3.0

Key Tasks

  • 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.
  • 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.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$53,460
25th$66,450
Median$83,910
75th$109,050
90th$139,770

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$25.70
25th$31.95
Median$40.34
75th$52.43
90th$67.20

Commercial and Industrial Designers pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$65,000$70,000$75,000$80,000$85,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $67,130National median - 2016: $67,790National median - 2017: $65,970National median - 2018: $66,590National median - 2019: $68,890National median - 2020: $71,640National median - 2021: $77,030National median - 2022: $75,910National median - 2023: $76,250National median - 2024: $79,450National median - 2025: $83,910$83,910
National median annual wage for Commercial and Industrial Designers, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $67,130
2016 $67,790
2017 $65,970
2018 $66,590
2019 $68,890
2020 $71,640
2021 $77,030
2022 $75,910
2023 $76,250
2024 $79,450
2025 $83,910

2015 median

$67,130

2025 median

$83,910

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$15,020 (+21.8%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+3.3%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Commercial and Industrial Designers by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $67,130 First banked release 31,330
May 2016 $67,790 +1.0% 31,860
May 2017 $65,970 -2.7% 31,250
May 2018 $66,590 +0.9% 33,200
May 2019 $68,890 Classification break 32,770
May 2020 $71,640 +4.0% 30,100
May 2021 $77,030 +7.5% 27,940
May 2022 $75,910 -1.5% 30,450
May 2023 $76,250 +0.4% 30,810
May 2024 $79,450 +4.2% 30,250
May 2025 $83,910 +5.6% 33,490

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $67,130 in May 2015 to $83,910 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.3% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 32,770 in May 2019 to 33,490 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 41 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Kansas $104,870 +25% above national
2 Michigan $102,160 +22% above national
3 Massachusetts $101,720 +21% above national
4 Rhode Island $101,140 +21% above national
5 California $100,770 +20% above national
6 Louisiana $98,040 +17% above national
7 Minnesota $94,370 +12% above national
8 Washington $94,280 +12% above national
9 Arkansas $92,540 +10% above national
10 Georgia $91,360 +9% above national
11 Colorado $90,590 +8% above national
12 New Jersey $90,310 +8% above national
13 New York $89,640 +7% above national
14 Indiana $88,040 +5% above national
15 Pennsylvania $82,610 2% below national
16 Virginia $82,230 2% below national
17 Connecticut $81,300 3% below national
18 Idaho $80,730 4% below national
19 Vermont $80,690 4% below national
20 North Carolina $80,620 4% below national
21 Wisconsin $80,590 4% below national
22 Ohio $79,470 5% below national
23 Florida $78,720 6% below national
24 South Carolina $77,300 8% below national
25 Oregon $76,970 8% below national
26 Nevada $76,680 9% below national
27 Oklahoma $76,640 9% below national
28 Arizona $76,420 9% below national
29 Kentucky $76,100 9% below national
30 Missouri $75,440 10% below national
31 New Hampshire $74,050 12% below national
32 West Virginia $73,030 13% below national
33 Montana $72,990 13% below national
34 Nebraska $71,570 15% below national
35 Tennessee $71,230 15% below national
36 Maryland $70,870 16% below national
37 Iowa $70,420 16% below national
38 Alabama $63,640 24% below national
39 New Mexico $62,710 25% below national
40 Utah $62,620 25% below national
41 South Dakota $60,110 28% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 117 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $141,310 +68% above national
2 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $119,490 +42% above national
3 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $112,950 +35% above national
4 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $108,180 +29% above national
5 Boulder, CO $107,990 +29% above national
6 Wichita, KS $105,180 +25% above national
7 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $104,980 +25% above national
8 Baton Rouge, LA $104,210 +24% above national
9 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $104,000 +24% above national
10 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $102,530 +22% above national
11 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $100,520 +20% above national
12 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $99,650 +19% above national
13 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $98,260 +17% above national
14 Colorado Springs, CO $98,220 +17% above national
15 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $96,260 +15% above national
16 Reno, NV $96,060 +14% above national
17 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $95,800 +14% above national
18 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $95,170 +13% above national
19 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $95,160 +13% above national
20 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $94,890 +13% above national
21 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $94,680 +13% above national
22 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $94,390 +12% above national
23 Worcester, MA $93,680 +12% above national
24 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $93,220 +11% above national
25 Spartanburg, SC $91,270 +9% above national
26 Richmond, VA $89,360 +6% above national
27 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $89,190 +6% above national
28 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $88,880 +6% above national
29 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $88,190 +5% above national
30 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $88,040 +5% above national
31 Raleigh-Cary, NC $87,620 +4% above national
32 Rochester, NY $87,570 +4% above national
33 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $86,920 +4% above national
34 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $86,120 +3% above national
35 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $86,090 +3% above national
36 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $85,660 +2% above national
37 St. Louis, MO-IL $85,530 +2% above national
38 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $85,480 +2% above national
39 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $85,280 +2% above national
40 Pittsburgh, PA $84,760 +1% above national
41 Tulsa, OK $84,690 +1% above national
42 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $84,540 +1% above national
43 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $84,230 same as national
44 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $84,080 same as national
45 Madison, WI $83,840 same as national
46 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $83,770 same as national
47 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $82,720 1% below national
48 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $82,020 2% below national
49 Lexington-Fayette, KY $81,740 3% below national
50 York-Hanover, PA $81,690 3% below national
51 Syracuse, NY $81,650 3% below national
52 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $81,620 3% below national
53 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $81,450 3% below national
54 Asheville, NC $81,070 3% below national
55 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $80,690 4% below national
56 Winston-Salem, NC $80,640 4% below national
57 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $80,590 4% below national
58 Kansas City, MO-KS $80,450 4% below national
59 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $80,440 4% below national
60 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $80,300 4% below national
61 Jacksonville, FL $80,240 4% below national
62 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $80,160 4% below national
63 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $80,150 4% below national
64 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $79,820 5% below national
65 Akron, OH $79,640 5% below national
66 Stockton-Lodi, CA $79,540 5% below national
67 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $79,410 5% below national
68 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $78,890 6% below national
69 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $78,360 7% below national
70 Cleveland, OH $78,270 7% below national
71 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $78,240 7% below national
72 Reading, PA $78,230 7% below national
73 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $78,140 7% below national
74 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $78,010 7% below national
75 Greensboro-High Point, NC $77,820 7% below national
76 Toledo, OH $77,720 7% below national
77 Columbus, OH $77,640 7% below national
78 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $77,570 8% below national
79 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $77,350 8% below national
80 Omaha, NE-IA $77,120 8% below national
81 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $76,790 8% below national
82 El Paso, TX $76,630 9% below national
83 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $76,320 9% below national
84 Boise City, ID $76,300 9% below national
85 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $75,400 10% below national
86 Columbia, SC $74,960 11% below national
87 Dalton, GA $74,660 11% below national
88 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $74,640 11% below national
89 Portland-South Portland, ME $74,480 11% below national
90 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $74,150 12% below national
91 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $72,370 14% below national
92 Roanoke, VA $71,920 14% below national
93 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $71,760 14% below national
94 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $70,380 16% below national
95 Knoxville, TN $70,200 16% below national
96 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $70,150 16% below national
97 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $69,290 17% below national
98 Lancaster, PA $68,110 19% below national
99 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $68,020 19% below national
100 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $67,830 19% below national
101 Fort Wayne, IN $67,810 19% below national
102 Fresno, CA $67,650 19% below national
103 Chattanooga, TN-GA $66,500 21% below national
104 Cedar Rapids, IA $66,400 21% below national
105 Albuquerque, NM $65,810 22% below national
106 Oklahoma City, OK $65,250 22% below national
107 Bend, OR $64,990 23% below national
108 Salem, OR $64,790 23% below national
109 Dubuque, IA $64,690 23% below national
110 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $64,610 23% below national
111 Birmingham, AL $63,650 24% below national
112 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $62,990 25% below national
113 Ogden, UT $62,060 26% below national
114 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $61,090 27% below national
115 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $58,690 30% below national
116 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $58,310 31% below national
117 Logan, UT-ID $47,840 43% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 27 (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 40 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($83,910 here) and reported employment (33,490 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Commercial and Industrial Designers make?
The median annual salary for Commercial and Industrial Designers is $83,910 ($40.34/hour). The salary range spans from $53,460 at the 10th percentile to $139,770 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Commercial and Industrial Designers pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $83,910, Commercial and Industrial Designers pay is higher than 76% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Commercial and Industrial Designers the most?
Kansas pays the highest median salary for Commercial and Industrial Designers at $104,870/year, which is +25% above the national median.
What education do Commercial and Industrial Designers need?
BLS assigns Commercial and Industrial Designers to Bachelor's degree for typical education needed for entry.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Commercial and Industrial Designers in this release. WageDex shows the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Commercial and Industrial Designers a good career?
Employment for Commercial and Industrial Designers is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is about as fast as average. About 2,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Commercial and Industrial Designers pay vary by state?
Commercial and Industrial Designers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Kansas at $104,870/year, while South Dakota pays the least at $60,110/year. BLS data covers 41 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Commercial and Industrial Designers?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $141,310/year. BLS reports a median for 117 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Commercial and Industrial Designers pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $109,050/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Kansas leads at $104,870/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.