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Job outlook for industrial designers in the United States
Industrial designer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected industrial designer job growth rate is 3% from 2018-2028.
About 900 new jobs for industrial designers are projected over the next decade.
Industrial designer salaries have increased 6% for industrial designers in the last 5 years.
There are over 15,702 industrial designers currently employed in the United States.
There are 54,012 active industrial designer job openings in the US.
The average industrial designer salary is $63,384.
Are industrial designer jobs in demand?
Industrial designer job and salary trends over time
Industrial designer jobs over time
Industrial designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,702 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 16,916 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 18,417 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 18,659 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 17,563 | 0.01% |
Average industrial designer salary over time
Industrial designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,384 | $30.47 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $60,951 | $29.30 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $58,916 | $28.32 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $58,367 | $28.06 | --2.7% |
| 2021 | $59,977 | $28.84 | +1.0% |
Industrial designer jobs by state
Most common states for industrial designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 239 | 34% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 893 | 12% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 804 | 12% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 498 | 12% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 881 | 10% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 305 | 10% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 299 | 10% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 131 | 10% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 101 | 10% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,398 | 9% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 941 | 9% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 485 | 9% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 56 | 9% |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 465 | 8% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 78 | 8% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,436 | 7% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 715 | 7% |
| 18 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 659 | 7% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 197 | 7% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 98 | 7% |
Most common cities for industrial designers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trumbull | 1 | 3% | $64,017 |
| 2 | Battle Creek | 1 | 2% | $65,109 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 1 | 2% | $64,235 |
| 4 | Grand Junction | 1 | 2% | $61,722 |
| 5 | Appleton | 1 | 1% | $53,303 |
| 6 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $75,675 |
| 7 | Chattanooga | 1 | 1% | $62,479 |
| 8 | Hawthorne | 1 | 1% | $79,554 |
| 9 | Jackson | 1 | 1% | $63,067 |
| 10 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $68,969 |
| 11 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $89,113 |
| 12 | Springfield | 1 | 1% | $61,287 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $61,467 |
| 14 | Cleveland | 1 | 0% | $57,007 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $62,836 |
| 16 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $89,006 |
| 17 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $89,485 |
| 18 | Seattle | 1 | 0% | $88,808 |
Industrial Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of industrial designer experts
Pennsylvania College of Technology
University of Akron
Kean University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Arkansas State University
San Francisco State University
Columbia University in the City of New York
Texas Christian University
Foothill College
Ferris State University
Marywood University
Santa Monica College
Belmont University
Eastern Illinois University
Kansas State University
Millikin University
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Albion College
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Louisiana State University and A&M College
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Kathryn Anderson: With the advent of AI, graphic designers must be valued for their technical and critical thinking skills. Graphic Designers of today provide more than just what the client wants or envisions, but rather a uniquely hyper-focused solution that can stand the test of time because of the insightful research and intense amount of processing and editing that is embedded in the design.
What general advice would you give to an Industrial Designer?
David Flynn: Everything that you see has been touched by a designer. The field is expanding with technology, but basic communication design principals remain paramount. It doesn’t matter if it’s a newspaper ad or a social post, you must have a professional that knows how to communicate a message, move the viewer's eye, and make the point. Designers work in every company and in every industry, worldwide.
What Industrial Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Denise Anderson: The skills graphic designers will need is learn artificial intelligence software AND how to masterfully use it. The masses will tinker with the new technology but designers need to harness the power of it and use their learned skills of ideation, art direction, and image manipulation skills (Photoshop). What they also need to develop is their storytelling skills which will help them with art directing and creating AI images.
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Allen Garcie MFA: On the technical side, software is always evolving so skills related to this are always important. However, I think keeping up with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) is going to be most important for designers over the next 3 to 5 years. This is an area that's already changing the design field as companies like Adobe and others continue to integrate AI into their software. On the other hand, being a designer isn't all about developing technology-related skills though. I also think developing non-technical skills like creativity, collaboration, and adaptability are extremely important for any designer.
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Nikki Arnell MFA: People like that being a graphic designer allows them to be creative for a living, with regular pay and benefits. However, the constant revisions and critiques on creative work can be challenging, and designers must learn to balance their artistic vision with client feedback and project objectives.
What Industrial Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikki Arnell MFA: Job flexibility is a key reason why Graphic Design is a good profession to enter now. A graphic designer can have various job titles and work in different settings, providing opportunities for freelance work or full-time positions. Having a strong portfolio is more important than a job title for future job prospects.
What general advice would you give to an Industrial Designer?
Saskia Van Kampen: On a day-to-day basis a newly hired graphic designer must engage in any number of stages of the design process (research, ideation, iterating, testing, refinement, and/or finalization) - this is not a linear process. On top of this they may be asked to interact with clients and with colleagues (collaborating and critically engaging with work being produced).
Pilar Newton
Program Director of Electronic Design and Multimedia programColumbia University in the City of New York
Fine And Studio Arts
What Industrial Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pilar Newton: Look into what industry you are interested in pursuing and research what the salary range is for positions that you are interested in especially entry level.
Research what studios are looking for. Even if a studio is not hiring reach out to them to set up informational interviews with studios that you are interested in. Often studio art directors will generously spend time on the phone, zoom or even an in person meeting to talk to you and tell you what the studio is looking for in potential artists that work for them.
Keep sharp! Keep practicing and staying on time of the latest versions of software and keep building your skills.
Jan Ballard
Senior InstructorTexas Christian University
Design And Applied Arts
What Industrial Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jan Ballard: In our BFA program, graduates must fulfill an internship requirement and participate in professional development events and conferences, such as Dialexa EDU, National Student Show, and Circles. Students should also thoughtfully follow industry influencers on social channels to stay informed of current market trends.
Carolyn Brown
ProfessorFoothill College
Graphic Communications
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Carolyn Brown: AI will continue to grow in importance in the next 3-5 years. AI is useful in many ways. Right now, AI is mostly used for writing which is great for brainstorming and writing the messaging that graphic designers create the visuals for. AI is becoming an important tool for generating images, videos, animations, 3D, and AR/VR content. The most important skill is the ability to learn new skills and/or adapt your current skills to new technologies.
What are the best companies to work for an Industrial Designer?
Patrick Klarecki: The Printing and Packaging Industry has had a strong history of employing college graduates each year. In my 28 years as faculty/administrator for the Graphic Communication and Graphic Media Management degrees, we have always had 3-6 jobs available for each of our graduates. Even through the 2008 economy, we were able to celebrate full employment for our graduates.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Industrial Designers to find work opportunities?
Patrick Klarecki: Graduates in May 2020 and December 2020 did not see the opportunities their previous alumni did. We were able to place only about 25% of our graduates. There are a couple that have offers of employment "When things get better."
What type of skills will young Industrial Designers need?
Patrick Klarecki: Recent projections from the Printing United Alliance show business owners are optimistic about 2021 and see their needs returning to "Pre-COVID" levels by the end of 2021 or early 2022. The workforce in our industry continues to age, technology continues to evolve, and young minds' needs will prevail.
Sue Jenkins
Associate ProfessorMarywood University
Art Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Industrial Designers?
Sue Jenkins: It might be too soon to tell. At Marywood U., 97% of 2019 grads are employed or going to grad school, but we don't have figures yet for the class of 2020. What we have seen since March 2020 is an increase in remote internships and employment opportunities. This COVID-adaptive type of flexibility will likely influence how employers hire and retain designers in the post-COVID world.
What type of skills will young Industrial Designers need?
Sue Jenkins: A strong understanding of the Principles and Elements of Art and Design, killer typography skills, an understanding of color theory, some training in sociology and psychology to gain a better understanding of user experience, creative and critical thinking skills, attention to details, a strong conceptual framework that supports the project goals, the ability to speak up, take critical feedback and be a team player, and above all the courage to be authentic and bring something fresh to the table.
What experience really stands out on Industrial Designer resumes?
Sue Jenkins: Before saying what stands out most, there's one thing to avoid; those skill self-assessment bar graphs that take up too much real estate and don't provide the reader with valid, useful data. A better solution is to list skills and proficiency in years, such as Adobe Photoshop, three years.
Now, what stands out most on a resume is evidence of creative engagement beyond the classroom. Has the student been a member of any clubs? Won any awards? Have you participated in any solo or group exhibitions and completed any internships, pro bono, or freelance work? Have you worked on any side projects? Run an Etsy, Society6, or RedBubble account? Sold any commissioned work? Definitely include all these types of activities along with any tangible outcomes and achievements, like "Designed a series of digital documents that downsized paper waste and reduced the client's carbon footprint by 13%." Results-oriented statements provide a better sense of the designer's understanding of their role and their value to an organization.
Lorrie Ivas
Full-time FacultySanta Monica College
Photo, Fashion Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Industrial Designers?
Lorrie Ivas: The ability to communicate your design concepts to the team (or future boss/interviewer) is vital. Hand and digital fashion sketching and illustration skills are necessary at every step. Scholarships, competitions, or internships often request a sample portfolio, so it doesn't go any further if the illustrations don't "wow" the judging viewer. One can sew/tailor beautifully, but knowing how to "show" that skillset to the judge or employer is vital - i.e., photographing the step-by-step process with close-up details of tailoring skills and presenting it digitally... will win. One may not show actual garments... so knowing how to "sell" your skills is crucial.
What skills will help Industrial Designers earn the most?
Lorrie Ivas: Digital skills are the "unique" differential in being the most valuable to a company today, as international communication resampling and production are all done online. And as mentioned in the above questions, the traditional "hands-on" skills coupled with digital skills are the best mix.
I co-authored a Fairchild/Bloomsbury fashion textbook years ago (2006) entitled "From Pencil to Pen Tool: Understanding and Creating the Digital Fashion Image" since there wasn't a formalized curriculum including Photoshop and Illustrator training for fashion students. All the job opportunities required software skills, but graphic designers were applying because they had those software skills... but didn't have the fashion skills. Now, thankfully, college programs across the country provide appropriate training.
Doug Regen
Professor of PracticeBelmont University
Graphic Design Department
What skills will help Industrial Designers earn the most?
Doug Regen: Brilliant Ideas are executed flawlessly. Team player. Ability to motivate and lead others. Strong communicator and presentation skills.
Samantha Osborne
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne DesignEastern Illinois University
Art + Design
What skills stand out on Industrial Designer resumes?
Samantha Osborne: Soft skills are equally important to hard skills. Graphic designers are visual communicators. Visual communication is a universal learned skill, vs. a linguistic capability. This means that graphic designers must learn to recognize and effectively utilize mood and tone in their own visual compositions in regard to color theory and psychology, gestalt principles, and font or lettering design. Essentially a well-skilled graphic designer becomes part psychologist in working through design problems and deciphering client direction, part problem-solver in developing an effective solution to the design problem, and part artist in bringing astonishing and original visual communication and graphics to reach a solution.
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Georges Fares: Interior Design intersects with and is influenced by many other fields. It's hard to be specific about what can increase the earning potential of designers as different firms and departments have different requirements, but if there is anything I am sure of it's that if students were successful in connecting to different fields and working on a multi-disciplinary level, then they can be a great fit anywhere which will make them a desirable asset to anyone. Interior Design can connect to all disciplines, such as psychology, medicine, education, and so on. And by working combining various disciplines or fields in your work, you can show that you are passionate about Interior Design and can work on a level that will definitely increase the success of the firm, and ultimately raise your earning potential and allow you to carry more responsibility that can definitely create a rapid change and development on a personal and professional level.
Jessa Wilcoxen
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Arts Technology & AdministrationMillikin University
Arts Technology & Administration Department
What will help Industrial Designers increase their earning potential?
Jessa Wilcoxen: One hard skill has always advanced the earning potential of designers is the ability to code at some level and to create interface designs. Employees that can design and code cannot only serve many needs themselves but they are also set up better to properly communicate with experts in those areas, lead innovation teams and more.
A soft skill to develop is an entrepreneurial mindset. Designers at their core are creative problem solvers. Graduates who can showcase design thinking and leadership skills will become critical members of entrepreneurship teams helping to create systems, products and services that solve real pain points for a group of people.
Portfolios have always been an essential tool in the job seeking process. Employers will still expect to see a high level of craft, creativity and technique but will also place value on samples that show a candidate's role on an interdisciplinary team. In a world that will continue to be impacted on many levels by the COVID 19 virus, there will be no shortage of problems to be solved. Designers should be a vital member of the teams working to solve those problems.
What general advice would you give to an Industrial Designer?
Abby Guido: We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.
Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Industrial Designers in the next 3-5 years?
Abby Guido: Our field is constantly changing and adapting; sometimes it moves so fast you cannot keep up. The areas I see growing are in AR/VR and experiential design.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Industrial Designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido: Designers can be well-compensated for their work. Some design areas are more lucrative than others, which tend to be the jobs in digital design. These jobs include user-experience design, experiential design, interactive design, motion design, and all AR and VR design positions.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Industrial Designer job market given the pandemic?
Lisa TenHulzen: This is a big question. Because of the financial strains the pandemic has placed on the entertainment industry, I suspect we will see trends towards smaller cast shows as well as simpler productions, overall. I believe this will help to ease some of the financial burdens a large cast and crew can place on a theatre, as well as help ease the audience back into a sense of security. Depending on the location of the production, an audience might not feel comfortable attending a large-scale performance. Smaller shows lend themselves better to smaller audiences. All of this to say, I believe theatre jobs will be in short supply for quite some time. At least until theatres are able to make up some of the financial losses. This means hiring will be limited to core positions of production such as directors, stage managers, technical directors, designers, and only a few technicians. For smaller theatres, we will most likely see theatre artists taking on multiple jobs within the production.
What Industrial Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa TenHulzen: What skills need to be enhanced really depends on the area of the theatre they traditionally worked in. For makers and artisans, I would suggest pursuing any hobby or job that will continue to stretch your creative side. You do not want to go for an extended period of time without making something with your hands. The same goes for the directors and actors, but find something where you can use your creative analysis and presentation skills. Start a podcast, read new plays, make videos, etc. The skill of a theatre artist can stagnate if it is not used. Take advantage of the time you have, and pursue a personal creative project.
What general advice would you give to an Industrial Designer?
Lisa TenHulzen: Work hard. I don't have to tell you that being successful in the theatre business is extremely difficult, even at the best of times. Post-pandemic, I believe this will be even harder. You have to be able to push yourself to become stronger, more professional and more driven than you ever anticipated. Being in the theatre professionally is not easy, and if you expect it to be, you are in the wrong field. Even the most talented among us have to work their tails off to be successful. Pursue anything and everything that comes your way, be kind to your colleagues, and be collaborative. Understand that there are 100 more artists waiting to take your place, so treat each position with the respect it deserves. One thing that will not change post-pandemic is how small the theatre world is and how much that can help or hinder you based on the relationships you build.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Industrial Designer job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.: COVID-19 accelerated the widespread use of e-commerce, and omnichannel retailing has never been more vital. Consumers are doing their research before purchasing a product, or even going into a brick-and-mortar store, making technology even more important in our word. People entering the job market know how to utilize different technologies to allow company operations to be more transparent and efficient. Job candidates must be comfortable with data analytics and forecasting future challenges. During times of industry disruption, job candidates with a broad knowledge of the industry, including product development and design, supply chain and sourcing, merchandising, and textile science will be more desirable.
What skills stand out on Industrial Designer resumes?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.: The retail industry is robust and requires many skills. Content and industry-related knowledge are essential, including comfort with computer applications like Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Excel. Beyond knowledge of the industry, job candidates need excellent communication skills in written and oral forms. It's also highly recommended that job candidates have work experience in their area of interest, which could include an internship, job shadow, or part-time position.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Industrial Designers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.: Job opportunities are everywhere in this industry. Keep an eye on your favorite brands and the location of their corporate offices. In particular, the Midwest is home to many corporate offices. There have been shifts for other offices to move to the Midwest to take advantage of its centralized location in the United States. Thus, the industry is all around us!
Mark Boyer
Director, Robert Reich School, Reich Teaching ProfessorLouisiana State University and A&M College
College of Art and Design
What type of skills will young Industrial Designers need?
Mark Boyer: I don't think the skill set needed will change much from what it has been. Qualities that come to mind are: teachable, reliable, thoughtful, articulate, adaptable, engaged, critical thinker, technologically adept, able to think big and small, empathetic, and good listener.
What experience really stands out on Industrial Designer resumes?
Mark Boyer: I think an employer would be better to answer this question, but my speculation is that experience as an intern in an office would be important, any experience that would be in an area related to a direction the firm is going or type of projects they are pursuing. I think any type of construction or building experience would be of interest.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Industrial Designers?
Mark Boyer: I would think that those who have gone through this experience will be changed in ways we still have yet to learn. Some of those changes will be positive (adaptability, endurance, resiliency), and some may be negative (depression, loss of family members or jobs).