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Industrial Designer III Salary in the United States

How much does an Industrial Designer III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Industrial Designer III in the United States is $97,836 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, an Industrial Designer III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $111,215
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,624 to $104,839
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,147
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Industrial Designer III Salaries

An Industrial Designer III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Industrial Designer III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Industrial Designer III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Industrial Designer I (0-2 years): $66,944
  • Industrial Designer II (2-4 years): $79,669
  • Industrial Designer III (4-7 years): $97,836
  • Industrial Designer IV (7+ years): $123,838
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Industrial Designer I0-2 years$66,944
Industrial Designer II2-4 years$79,669
Industrial Designer III4-7 years$97,836
Industrial Designer IV7+ years$123,838
View as Graph

How Do Industrial Designer III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Industrial Designer IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $108,324.
  • California: $107,913.
  • Massachusetts: $106,475.

Top Paying Cities for Industrial Designer IIIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $123,401
  • San Francisco: $122,049
  • Oakland: $119,477

What Skills Can Increase an Industrial Designer III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.17% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Illustrator (Mentioned in 3.74% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Originally designed for the Apple Macintosh, development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985. Along with Creative Cloud, Illustrator CC was released.
  • Product Development (Mentioned in 2.8% Job Postings): Overseeing the creation of new products or improvement of the performance, cost, or quality of existing products to achieve business goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.17%
Illustrator 3.74%
Product Development 2.8%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Industrial Designer III's salary.

  • User Research: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Storytelling: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
User Research $104,685
7%
Storytelling $104,685
7%
Insight $103,706
6%
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Industrial Designer III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Industrial Designer III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $109,336. While startup companies pay approximate $92,487.

Industrial Designer III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $92,487
Growth Stage 51~500 $97,814
Established 501~5000 $105,578
Enterprise 5000+ $109,336

Industrial Designer III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Industrial Designer III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Industrial Designer positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Industrial Designer III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Industrial Designer III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$127,187$61.030%
Biotechnology$122,295$59.025%
Software & Networking$119,360$57.022%
Financial Services$117,403$56.020%
Internet$115,446$56.018%

How Education impacts an Industrial Designer III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Industrial Designer III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Industrial Designer III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $94,235 and $99,689.

Industrial Designer III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Industrial Designer III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 3.9%
Associates 12.4%
Bachelors 64.6%
Masters 18.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Industrial Designer III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Industrial Designer III'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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$89,624
Average $97,836/year
$104,839
$7,469
Average $8,153/month
$8,737
$1,724
Average $1,881/week
$2,016
$43
Average $47/hour
$50
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $104,839 $8,737 $2,016 $50
Average $97,836 $8,153 $1,881 $47
25th Percentile $89,624 $7,469 $1,724 $43

Industrial Designer III Salary Growth & Career Path

Industrial Designer III

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Advancement

For an Industrial Designer III, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Industrial Designer IV role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $123,838 - a projected growth of 27% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Industrial Designer III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Industrial Designer III

Here are companies hiring for Industrial Designer III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Industrial Designer III

1. Where can an Industrial Designer III earn the most?

An Industrial Designer III'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 Designer III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Industrial Designer III is $123,401.

2. What is the highest pay for Industrial Designer III?

The highest pay for Industrial Designer III is $111,215.

3. What is the lowest pay for Industrial Designer III?

The lowest pay for Industrial Designer III is $82,147.

4. What are the responsibilities of Industrial Designer III?

Designs and develops industrial product concepts and specifications that reflect aesthetic, functional, and manufacturing requirements. Researches and analyzes the intended use of products and user preferences. Translates user insights and market requirements into sketches, prototypes, and CAD models to visually communicate the design concept. Collaborates with stakeholders like engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and suppliers to produce final designs that meet safety, manufacturability, timeline, and cost constraints. Experienced in using a variety of 3D/2D CAD rendering, prototyping, and animation tools. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in industrial design. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Industrial Designer III?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Industrial Designer III roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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