As of July 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Product Design Engineer I in the United States is $38, which translates to an annual salary of about $78,960.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
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A Product Design Engineer I'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Product Design Engineer I'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Product Design Engineer I | 0-2 years | $78,960 |
| Product Design Engineer II | 2-4 years | $89,570 |
| Product Design Engineer III | 4-7 years | $111,963 |
| Product Design Engineer IV | 7+ years | $136,711 |
| Product Design Engineer V | 7-10 years | $160,160 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Product Design Engineer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 17.02% |
| Continuous Improvement | 0.88% |
| CNC | 0.49% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Square
|
$82,908 |
5%
|
|
Networking
|
$82,908 |
5%
|
|
Brand Design
|
$82,118 |
4%
|
|
Leadership
|
$80,539 |
2%
|
|
Innovation
|
$80,539 |
2%
|
|
Team Operations
|
$80,539 |
2%
|
Product Design Engineer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $88,316. While startup companies pay approximate $74,689.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $74,689 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $78,995 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $85,286 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $88,316 |
For Product Design Engineer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Product Design Engineer positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Product Design Engineer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet | $90,804 | $44.0 | 15% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $88,435 | $43.0 | 12% |
| Biotechnology | $86,856 | $42.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $85,277 | $41.0 | 8% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $82,908 | $40.0 | 5% |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Product Design Engineer Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Product Design Engineer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $76,251 and $80,097).
Product Design Engineer I Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 0.3% |
| High School | 5.3% |
| Associates | 10.6% |
| Bachelors | 56.2% |
| Masters | 25.2% |
| Doctorate | 2.5% |
Understanding how a Product Design Engineer I'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 July 01, 2026Salaries for a Product Design Engineer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,550 in 2023 to around $81,914 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Product Design Engineer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $82,550 |
| 2024 | $82,679 |
| 2025 | $81,914 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Product Design Engineer I roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.
Designs, develops, and enhances new and existing products/product lines. Evaluates and recommends specifications and ensures products meet the technical and functional requirements. Recommends and follows reliable, efficient, and cost-effective procedures. Performs feasibility, functional, and quality testing of designs. Works with other members of the engineering staff to ensure project milestones are met and that projects are completed according to established timelines. Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Continuous Improvement: A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
CNC: Numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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