Also called: Packaging Designer, Dieline Designer
Invents clever folding boxes, displays and inserts, figuring out how a flat sheet of cardboard turns into a 3D package.
You design a pop-up store display in software, send it to a sample table that cuts and creases the cardboard, then fold it by hand to see if it works. Making an unboxing experience feel special for a new pair of headphones is part of the job.
Estimated from industry data.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in packaging, industrial design or graphic design; some learn on the job at box plants.
Ways in: 4-year college, 2-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Packaging Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design.
Growing about average. No BLS projection; steady demand from e-commerce and retail.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI and CAD tools now auto-generate box styles and dielines; designers who solve hard structural and retail problems remain.
Classes: Art, Geometry, Drafting/CAD class.
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.