Industrial Designer Salary in 2026
Design manufactured products combining art, business, and engineering principles.
Median Salary
$72,000
$6,000/mo
Entry Level
$48,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$98,000
experienced
Job Growth
+6%
10-yr outlook
Industrial Designer Overview
Design manufactured products combining art, business, and engineering principles.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
2-4 years
Industry
Engineering
Total Jobs (US)
28K
5-Year Growth
+8%
Category
Engineering
Hourly Rate
$34.62/hr
Monthly Pay
$6,000
Industrial Designer Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Industrial Designer salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Industrial Designer Salary
$81,000
$6,750/month · $3,115/biweekly · $38.94/hr
Industrial Designer Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Industrial Designer field.
Entry-level Industrial Designers earn around $48,000, while the top 10% earn $109,000 or more.
Top Paying States for Industrial Designers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $85,000 | +$13,000 |
| New York | $83,000 | +$11,000 |
| Oregon | $74,000 | +$2,000 |
| Michigan | $68,000 | $-4,000 |
| Ohio | $68,000 | $-4,000 |
Top Paying Cities for Industrial Designers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $90,000 | +$18,000 |
| New York | $85,000 | +$13,000 |
| Portland | $76,000 | +$4,000 |
| Detroit | $68,000 | $-4,000 |
| Columbus | $68,000 | $-4,000 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Industrial Designer Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Industrial Designer from entry level to expert.
$48,000
0-2 years
$73,000
3-7 years
$98,000
8-14 years
$120,000
15+ years
Related Engineering Jobs
Industrial Designer Salary FAQ
Methodology & Data Sources — Industrial Designer Salary
How we calculate Industrial Designer salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.
- National median salary: $72,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to Industrial Designer in the Engineering sector.
- Entry-level ($48,000) and senior-level ($98,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
- Job outlook: +6% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 28K total positions nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 8% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Engineering sector wages.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $72,000.
Authoritative US data sources for Industrial Designer compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Industrial Designer job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections — 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data for Engineering
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Industrial Designer salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (CAD/3D Modeling, User Research, Prototyping), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release
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