Commercial and Industrial Designers Salary
Commercial and Industrial Designers in Washington make a median of $94,280 a year, or about $45.33 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $154K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $92,422 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Washington?
About commercial and industrial designers
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for commercial and industrial designers, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $84K. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level commercial and industrial designers (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $154K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $105K | +11% | 270 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial and industrial designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 29.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial and industrial designers in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial and industrial designers typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,743/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $94K here vs. $84K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for commercial and industrial designers?
Washington pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $84K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial and industrial designers make in Washington?
The median is $94,280 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,390, and experienced commercial and industrial designers can clear $153,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,226/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 29.4% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial and industrial designers salary is worth about $92,422 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.