Commercial and Industrial Designers · California

Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary in California

Commercial and Industrial Designers in California earn a median annual wage of $100,770 —20.1% above the national median of $83,910. That ranks CA #5 of 41 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$100,770
Median hourly
$48.45
Entry level (P10)
$62,860
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$168,490
90th percentile
Employment
5,300
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+20.1%
U.S. $83,910

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$62,860
$76,060
$100,770
$133,190
$62,860$100,770$168,490
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $100,770.

Employment is 1.35× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for commercial and industrial designers

All 41 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Kansas$104,870$50.422600.84
2Michigan$102,160$49.122,9303.09
3Massachusetts$101,720$48.901,2401.58
4Rhode Island$101,140$48.621901.76
5California$100,770$48.455,3001.35
6Louisiana$98,040$47.131300.32
7Minnesota$94,370$45.375900.93
8Washington$94,280$45.333400.44
9Arkansas$92,540$44.492300.80
10Georgia$91,360$43.923600.34

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do commercial and industrial designers make in California?

The median annual wage for commercial and industrial designers in California is $100,770, or $48.45 per hour. That is 20.1% above the national median of $83,910.

What is the entry-level commercial and industrial designers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $62,860 per year ($30.22/hour). The 25th percentile is $76,060.

How many people work as commercial and industrial designers in California?

About 5,300 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for commercial and industrial designers?

California ranks #5 of 41 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.35x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays commercial and industrial designers the most?

Kansas has the highest median wage at $104,870 per year, followed by Michigan ($102,160) and Massachusetts ($101,720).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes