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The differences between industrial designers and interior designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an industrial designer and an interior designer. Additionally, an industrial designer has an average salary of $63,384, which is higher than the $52,482 average annual salary of an interior designer.
The top three skills for an industrial designer include industrial design, solidworks and CAD. The most important skills for an interior designer are revit, space planning, and sketch.
| Industrial Designer | Interior Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $63,384 | $52,482 |
| Hourly rate | $30.47 | $25.23 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 54,012 | 48,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Industrial Designers work with clients to conceptualize product ideas. They collaborate with clients in creating product blueprints, samples, and mock-ups. Industrial Designers create drafts based on the clients' ideas, keeping in mind the different requirements as well as aesthetic qualities that the clients envision. They usually specialize in a specific product category such as toys, furniture, and cars, among others. Industrial Designers also collaborate with other professionals such as manufacturers, materials experts, safety experts, and other product makers to ensure the feasibility and the product safety of the concepts they come up with.
An interior designer helps people decorate their rooms and spaces, creating the most functional and beautiful area as possible. They sit with clients to plan desired goals, visualize the space's functions, and sketch the design plan. Then, they pick and order materials and furnishings needed for the project. Additionally, they create a project timeline, estimate cost, and supervise the construction and installation. They follow-up with clients to guarantee their satisfaction once the project is completed. Interior designers should have an understanding of building and construction as well as public safety and security. They must be flexible in their time since they work to meet client needs.
Industrial designers and interior designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Industrial Designer | Interior Designer | |
| Average salary | $63,384 | $52,482 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $92,000 | Between $35,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Meta | German International School New York |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Construction |
There are a few differences between an industrial designer and an interior designer in terms of educational background:
| Industrial Designer | Interior Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 83% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Interior Design |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between industrial designers' and interior designers' demographics:
| Industrial Designer | Interior Designer | |
| Average age | 40 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% | Male, 21.0% Female, 79.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 1.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 10.1% White, 76.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 23% |