Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary
Commercial and Industrial Designers in Missouri make a median of $75,440 a year, or about $36.27 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $84,793 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in Missouri?
About commercial and industrial designers
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What this looks like in Missouri
Commercial and industrial designers pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $84K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level commercial and industrial designers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $86K | +13% | 140 |
| Kansas City | $80K | +7% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial and industrial designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial and industrial designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial and industrial designers in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial and industrial designers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,687/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is commercial and industrial designer a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $84K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for commercial and industrial designers?
Missouri pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial and industrial designers make in Missouri?
The median is $75,440 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,780, and experienced commercial and industrial designers can clear $136,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,888/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 22.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a commercial and industrial designers salary go in Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial and industrial designers salary is worth about $84,793 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do commercial and industrial designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
