Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Commercial and Industrial Designers in Raleigh-Cary, NC make a median of $78,940 a year, or about $37.95 an hour. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $80,420 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month — about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial and industrial designers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level commercial and industrial designers (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial and Industrial Designers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $107K | +34% | 450 |
| Kansas | $100K | +26% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $99K | +25% | 1,020 |
| Indiana | $94K | +18% | 400 |
| Rhode Island | $93K | +17% | 210 |
| California | $93K | +17% | 4,530 |
| Nevada | $88K | +11% | 170 |
| Michigan | $85K | +8% | 2,580 |
| New York | $85K | +7% | 2,140 |
| South Carolina | $84K | +5% | 470 |
| Georgia | $82K | +3% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +2% | 1,030 |
| Arizona | $81K | +2% | 290 |
| Arkansas | $80K | +1% | 230 |
| Montana | $79K | -0% | 70 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -0% | 110 |
| Connecticut | $79K | -0% | 230 |
| Virginia | $78K | -2% | 1,480 |
| Minnesota | $78K | -2% | 560 |
| Missouri | $78K | -2% | 500 |
| Texas | $78K | -2% | 1,630 |
| New Hampshire | $77K | -3% | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $76K | -4% | 500 |
| Nebraska | $76K | -4% | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -4% | 960 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -4% | 330 |
| Oregon | $75K | -5% | 340 |
| Maryland | $75K | -5% | 390 |
| North Carolina | $74K | -6% | 1,220 |
| Alabama | $74K | -7% | 90 |
| Ohio | $71K | -10% | 1,060 |
| Kentucky | $70K | -11% | 290 |
| Iowa | $69K | -13% | 540 |
| Idaho | $68K | -15% | 220 |
| Vermont | $67K | -16% | 100 |
| Florida | $66K | -17% | 1,800 |
| Utah | $66K | -17% | 460 |
| Illinois | $65K | -18% | 230 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -24% | 970 |
| New Mexico | $59K | -26% | N/A |
| South Dakota | $53K | -33% | 130 |
| North Dakota | $51K | -35% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial and industrial designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial and industrial designers make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $78,940 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,970, and experienced commercial and industrial designers can clear $117,550. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,031/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 34.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a commercial and industrial designers salary go in Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $80,420 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.