As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Industrial Design Director in the United States is $218,192 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $105.
However, an Industrial Design Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Industrial Design Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $232,313 | $19,359 | $4,468 | $112 |
| Average | $218,192 | $18,183 | $4,196 | $105 |
| 25th Percentile | $202,942 | $16,912 | $3,903 | $98 |
An Industrial Design Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Industrial Design Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $244,253. While startup companies pay approximate $206,632.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $206,632 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $218,538 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $235,870 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $244,253 |
Understanding how an Industrial Design Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $232,313 | $19,359 | $4,468 | $112 |
| Average | $218,192 | $18,183 | $4,196 | $105 |
| 25th Percentile | $202,942 | $16,912 | $3,903 | $98 |
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An Industrial Design Director's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Industrial Design Director earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Industrial Design Director is $275,205.
The highest pay for Industrial Design Director is $245,170.
The lowest pay for Industrial Design Director is $189,058.
Directs the industrial design function by establishing strategies, priorities, and processes for developing innovative product concepts and specifications that balance aesthetic, functional, manufacturing, and business objectives. Defines design strategy using user insights, emerging technologies, market trends, and customer needs to shape the product portfolio. Guides the translation of business and market requirements into differentiated design solutions aligned with brand, quality, safety, manufacturability, cost, and commercialization goals. Partners with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to drive product innovation, organizational alignment, and successful product delivery. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in industrial design. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.
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