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Inventor salary
Average inventor salary
$57,594
Understanding Inventor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an inventor in the United States is $57,594 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and years of experience.
Salary by State
Inventors in states such as California and New York typically earn higher salaries due to the concentration of industries that value innovative products and technologies. For example, California, with its thriving tech sector, often offers salaries above the national average.
Career Opportunities
The inventor role spans various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and engineering. Inventors not only create but also improve existing products, making their skills highly valuable. Those entering this field can expect diverse job opportunities, from product development to consulting roles.
Trends Over Time
Over the years, the inventor profession has evolved, with more emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. This shift is reflected in the salary trends, indicating a steady increase as demand for innovative solutions grows across industries.
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Where can an Inventor earn more?
Inventor salary estimates from across the web
Average inventor salary by state
The highest-paying states for inventors are New York, California, and Massachusetts. The lowest average inventor salary states are New Hampshire, Utah, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for inventors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $78,742 | $37.86 |
| 2 | California | $74,604 | $35.87 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $73,058 | $35.12 |
| 4 | Maine | $64,202 | $30.87 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $63,389 | $30.48 |
| 6 | Washington | $64,932 | $31.22 |
| 7 | Vermont | $63,121 | $30.35 |
| 8 | Michigan | $59,554 | $28.63 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $70,165 | $33.73 |
| 10 | Alaska | $63,398 | $30.48 |
| 11 | Texas | $62,621 | $30.11 |
| 12 | Oregon | $62,176 | $29.89 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $65,742 | $31.61 |
| 14 | Arizona | $67,861 | $32.63 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $65,066 | $31.28 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $59,215 | $28.47 |
| 17 | Virginia | $64,709 | $31.11 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $63,751 | $30.65 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $68,914 | $33.13 |
| 20 | Idaho | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $58,722 | $28.23 |
| 22 | Delaware | $56,255 | $27.05 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $55,963 | $26.91 |
| 24 | Kansas | $58,506 | $28.13 |
| 25 | Indiana | $57,500 | $27.64 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $52,841 | $25.40 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $58,142 | $27.95 |
| 28 | Illinois | $55,855 | $26.85 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $55,417 | $26.64 |
| 30 | Nevada | $54,979 | $26.43 |
| 31 | Ohio | $54,411 | $26.16 |
| 32 | Maryland | $56,069 | $26.96 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $53,161 | $25.56 |
| 34 | Montana | $51,527 | $24.77 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $48,039 | $23.10 |
| 36 | Missouri | $54,973 | $26.43 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $49,839 | $23.96 |
| 38 | Alabama | $50,532 | $24.29 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | $46,478 | $22.35 |
| 40 | Iowa | $52,441 | $25.21 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $48,018 | $23.09 |
| 42 | Utah | $45,352 | $21.80 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $51,261 | $24.64 |
| 44 | Colorado | $48,074 | $23.11 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $48,355 | $23.25 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $44,823 | $21.55 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $48,981 | $23.55 |
| 48 | Georgia | $43,545 | $20.94 |
| 49 | Florida | $46,873 | $22.54 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $44,210 | $21.25 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $39,918 | $19.19 |
Highest paying cities for inventors
The highest-paying cities for inventors are New York, NY, Allentown, PA, and Windsor, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $78,784 | $37.88 |
| 2 | Allentown, PA | $66,245 | $31.85 |
| 3 | Windsor, CT | $63,439 | $30.50 |
| 4 | Mendota Heights, MN | $58,108 | $27.94 |
| 5 | Mendota, MN | $58,103 | $27.93 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $56,211 | $27.02 |
| 7 | Doral, FL | $45,554 | $21.90 |
Inventor salary details
An inventor's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $103,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an inventor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| Average | $57,594 | $4,800 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying inventor jobs
The highest paying types of inventors are product designer, product design internship, and senior industrial designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product Engineering Internship | $43,381 | $3,615 | $20.86 | 152,860 |
| Product Design Internship | $75,789 | $6,316 | $36.44 | 141,378 |
| Product Designer | $102,033 | $8,503 | $49.05 | 98,465 |
| Lighting Designer | $53,542 | $4,462 | $25.74 | 46,203 |
| Industrial Design Internship | $65,869 | $5,489 | $31.67 | 98,331 |
| Industrial Designer | $63,384 | $5,282 | $30.47 | 54,012 |
Top companies hiring inventors now:
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Inventor salary trends
The average inventor salary has risen by $8,747 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average inventor earned $48,847 annually, but today, they earn $57,594 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for inventors over the last decade.
Compare inventor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average inventor salary over time
Compare inventor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Inventor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,600 | $27.69 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $55,400 | $26.63 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $53,500 | $25.74 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $53,000 | $25.50 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | $54,500 | $26.20 | +1.0% |
Recently added inventor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permasteelisa North America Corp. | SR. Inventor Modeler | Miramar, FL | 05/08/2024 | $76,875 |
| Permasteelisa North America Corp. | Asst. Inventor Modeler | Mendota Heights, MN | 03/07/2024 | $86,476 |
| Permasteelisa North America Corp. | Asst. Inventor Modeler | Mendota Heights, MN | 03/07/2024 | $86,476 |
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