Also called: Product Designer, Commercial Designer
Designs everyday products, from toothbrushes and headphones to chairs and power tools, so they look good and work well.
An industrial designer sketches ideas, builds foam models, and creates 3D CAD files of a new product. They test prototypes with real users, then work with engineers and factories to make it manufacturable. A single product can go through dozens of versions.
Based on BLS commercial and industrial designers (27-1021), May 2024.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in industrial design; a strong portfolio is required.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Industrial Design, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). BLS projects about average growth, 2024-34.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI speeds concept renders and options; solving ergonomic, materials and manufacturing problems still requires designers.
Classes: Engineering or CAD CTE, AP Studio Art 3-D Design, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.