The median annual wage for industrial designers was $67,130 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,630, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,730.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for industrial designers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Architectural, engineering, and related services
$71,500
Specialized design services
66,610
Manufacturing
63,790
Wholesale trade
62,090
Most industrial designers work full time.
Industrial designers who are self-employed or work for firms that hire them out to other organizations may need to frequently adjust their workdays to meet with clients in the evenings or on weekends. In addition, they may spend some of their time looking for new projects or competing with other designers for contracts.
Industrial Designers
Median annual wages, May 2015
Commercial and industrial designers
$67,130
Art and design workers
$43,950
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics