Commercial and Industrial Designers in Pennsylvania
Thinking about a career as a Commercial and Industrial Designers in Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know. Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children’s toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.
What do Commercial and Industrial Designers Make in Pennsylvania?
For commercial and industrial designers working in Pennsylvania, the median annual wage is $75,960 per year (or roughly $36.52/hour).Earnings range from $39,170 at the 10th percentile to $116,590 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 25th percentile | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Median (50th) | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| 75th percentile | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| 90th percentile | $116,590 | $56.05 |
The job concentration index in Pennsylvania compared to the national average — is 0.81, meaning fewer commercial and industrial designers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, commercial and industrial designers earn a median of $56,384 per year ($27.11/hour), above the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 344,427 commercial and industrial designers in the U.S.. In Pennsylvania alone, approximately 960 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 400 commercial and industrial designers.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Commercial and Industrial Designers
The largest metro-area employers of commercial and industrial designers in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 490 | $82,590 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 120 | $78,590 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 50 | $77,860 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 50 | $79,470 |
| Lancaster, PA | 40 | $75,500 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 40 | $78,340 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 30 | $65,660 |
| Reading, PA | 30 | $75,810 |
Top States for Commercial and Industrial Designers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most commercial and industrial designers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 4,530 |
| Michigan | 2,580 |
| New York | 2,140 |
| Florida | 1,800 |
| Texas | 1,630 |
| Virginia | 1,480 |
| North Carolina | 1,220 |
| Ohio | 1,060 |
| New Jersey | 1,030 |
| Massachusetts | 1,020 |
| Tennessee | 970 |
| Pennsylvania | 960 |
| Minnesota | 560 |
| Iowa | 540 |
| Wisconsin | 500 |
| Missouri | 500 |
| Mississippi | 490 |
| South Carolina | 470 |
| Utah | 460 |
| Georgia | 460 |
Highest-Paying States for Commercial and Industrial Designers
Where commercial and industrial designers earn the most: commercial and industrial designers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $106,720 |
| Kansas | $100,010 |
| Massachusetts | $99,310 |
| Indiana | $93,860 |
| Rhode Island | $93,340 |
| California | $93,300 |
| Nevada | $87,800 |
| Michigan | $85,460 |
| New York | $85,240 |
| South Carolina | $83,610 |
Skills
Key commercial and industrial designers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for commercial and industrial designers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Commercial and Industrial Designers typically:
- Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
- Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
- Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
- Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
- Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
- Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
- Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
- Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using, and maintaining it.
- Develop manufacturing procedures and monitor the manufacture of their designs in a factory to improve operations and product quality.
- Participate in new product planning or market research, including studying the potential need for new products.
- Read publications, attend showings, and study competing products and design styles and motifs to obtain perspective and generate design concepts.
- Fabricate models or samples in paper, wood, glass, fabric, plastic, metal, or other materials, using hand or power tools.
Work Activities
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Working with Computers
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Thinking Creatively
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator In-demand technologies: Adobe Creative Cloud software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Design & Applied Arts
- Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians
- Engineering-Related Fields
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Other careers like commercial and industrial designers include:
- Industrial Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters
- Mechanical Drafters
Also Known As
Art Glass Designer, Automobile Designer, Bank Note Designer, Bicycle Designer, Bike Designer, Boat Designer, Body Stylist, Car Body Designer, Ceramic Designer, Ceramic Mold Designer, Cloth Designer, Color Advisor, Color Consultant, Color Expert, Commercial Designer.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-1021.00
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