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What is an exterior designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an exterior designer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $45.11 an hour? That's $93,819 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 0% and produce 0 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreExterior DesignerUS Average
Salary
7.3

Avg. Salary $93,819

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.21%

Asian 5.21%

Black or African American 0.40%

Hispanic or Latino 5.81%

Unknown 3.41%

White 84.96%

Gender

female 27.86%

male 72.14%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
5.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Exterior designer career paths

Key steps to become an exterior designer

  1. Explore exterior designer education requirements

    Most common exterior designer degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.7 %

    Associate

    14.3 %

    High School Diploma

    13.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific exterior designer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CAD51.15%
    Design Concepts28.08%
    Photoshop17.05%
    Design Presentations3.72%
  3. Complete relevant exterior designer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New exterior designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an exterior designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real exterior designer resumes.
  4. Research exterior designer duties and responsibilities

    • Develop customized user interaction models using object-orient prototyping.
    • Issue mass production drawings for various parts and vehicles.
    • Assist with cost and weight reports for the Acura MDX.
    • Create structural concepts, base on style data and underbody negotiation, and develop them into mass production parts.
  5. Prepare your exterior designer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your exterior designer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an exterior designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable exterior designer resume templates

    Build a professional exterior designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your exterior designer resume.
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
    Exterior Designer Resume
  6. Apply for exterior designer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an exterior designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first exterior designer job

Zippi

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Average exterior designer salary

The average exterior designer salary in the United States is $93,819 per year or $45 per hour. Exterior designer salaries range between $58,000 and $150,000 per year.

Average exterior designer salary
$93,819 Yearly
$45.11 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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