How Much Does an Industrial Designer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$83,910
Industrial designers in the U.S. earn a median of $83,910 a year, or $40.34 an hour. Half of industrial designers earn more than $83,910 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $139,770.
Pay percentiles for industrial designers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $25.70 | $53,460 |
| 25th | $31.95 | $66,450 |
| 50th (median) | $40.34 | $83,910 |
| 75th | $52.43 | $109,050 |
| 90th | $67.20 | $139,770 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Commercial and Industrial Designers (SOC 27-1021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for industrial designers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $104,870 | $50.42 | +25% |
| Michigan | $102,160 | $49.12 | +22% |
| Massachusetts | $101,720 | $48.90 | +21% |
| Rhode Island | $101,140 | $48.62 | +21% |
| California | $100,770 | $48.45 | +20% |
| Louisiana | $98,040 | $47.13 | +17% |
| Minnesota | $94,370 | $45.37 | +12% |
| Washington | $94,280 | $45.33 | +12% |
| Arkansas | $92,540 | $44.49 | +10% |
| Georgia | $91,360 | $43.92 | +9% |
| United States | $83,910 | $40.34 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many industrial designers are there?
BLS counts about 33,490 industrial designers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Commercial and Industrial Designers”. The most jobs are in California (5,300), Michigan (2,930) and New York (2,400).
The mean (average) annual wage is $93,260, higher than the median of $83,910.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,993
- Biweekly
- $3,227
- Weekly
- $1,614
- Daily (8 hours)
- $323
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do industrial designers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for industrial designers is $40.34. The middle 50% earn between $31.95 and $52.43 an hour.
Which state pays industrial designers the most?
Kansas has the highest median wage for industrial designers at $104,870, +25% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for industrial designers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of industrial designers earn less than $53,460 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.