Industrial Designer

Explore This Path

Design innovative products that blend art and functionality for everyday use.
Shape the future by creating appealing and practical designs for diverse industries.
Transform ideas into reality with cutting-edge tools and creative problem-solving.

💰 Earn $66K-$117K

📚 Bachelor Degree

⏱️ 24–48 MONTH TRAINING

📈 3.1% JOB GROWTH

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What You’ll Do

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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Bachelor Degree

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

2 to 4 years

Job Openings

2,300 Annually

Median Earnings

$84,190 in California

$76,250 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Industrial Designer? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@designerti

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Being creative or artistic
Influencing or leading others
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Coordination
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Time Management

You value 🙏

Accomplishing things
Having freedom
Personal relationships

Deep Dive

Industrial Designer

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Associate's Degree

An associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 2-3 years

Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.

🎓 College

⏱️ FINISH IN 4-5+ years

Vocational School

A vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.

🎓 Skills-Focused

⏱️ FINISH IN 6 months - 2 years