Head Design Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Head Design Manager make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Head Design Manager in the United States is $130,225 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

However, a Head Design Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,989
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,375 to $141,617
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $107,586
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View as table View as graph 25% $118,375 10% $107,586 90% $151,989 75% $141,617 $130,225 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Head Design Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $141,617 $11,801 $2,723 $68
Average $130,225 $10,852 $2,504 $63
25th Percentile $118,375 $9,865 $2,276 $57
Check out Head Design Manager Job Openings in the United States
Controls Engineer- Hardware Design

Lincoln Electric - PLYMOUTH, MI

Applications Design Engineer

Lincoln Electric - FORT LORAMIE, OH

Applications Design Engineer

Lincoln Electric - COLDWATER, OH

Applications Design Engineer

Lincoln Electric - FORT LORAMIE, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Head Design Manager Salaries

A Head Design Manager'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 Head Design Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Head Design Manager'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $124,874
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $125,416
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $126,680
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,225
  • Expert (over 8 years): $133,576
Levels Salary
Entry Level Head Design Manager$124,874
Intermediate Level Head Design Manager$125,416
Senior Level Head Design Manager$126,680
Specialist Level Head Design Manager$130,225
Expert Level Head Design Manager$133,576
$124,874 0 yr
$125,416 < 2 yrs
$126,680 2-4 yrs
$130,225 5-8 yrs
$133,576 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Head Design Manager 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 Head Design Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $144,185.
  • California: $143,638.
  • Massachusetts: $141,724.

Top Paying Cities for Head Design Managers

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: $164,253
  • San Francisco: $162,638
  • Oakland: $159,031

What Skills Can Increase a Head Design Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Written Communication (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Communicating information through written media to educate, inform and influence the target audience.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 2.88% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • Construction Management (Mentioned in 0.82% Job Postings): Construction management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project's time / delivery, cost and quality—sometimes referred to as a project management triangle or "triple constraints." CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Written Communication 11.11%
CAD 2.88%
Construction Management 0.82%
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 a Head Design Manager's salary.
  • Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • 3D Rendering: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • 3D Scanning: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Interviewing
 $144,550
11%
3D Rendering
 $143,248
10%
3D Scanning
 $140,643
8%
Coaching
 $140,643
8%
Leadership
 $135,434
4%
Project Design
 $134,132
3%
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How Education impacts a Head Design Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Head Design Managers 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 Head Design Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $133,664 and $143,905).

Head Design Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Head Design Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 10.3%
Associates 14.7%
Bachelors 51.6%
Masters 19.4%
Doctorate 3.6%
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Head Design Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Head Design Manager'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$118,375
Average $130,225/year
$141,617
$9,865
Average $10,852/month
$11,801
$2,276
Average $2,504/week
$2,723
$57
Average $63/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $141,617 $11,801 $2,723 $68
Average $130,225 $10,852 $2,504 $63
25th Percentile $118,375 $9,865 $2,276 $57

Salaries of jobs related to Head Design Manager

Salary Trends for Head Design Manager

Salaries for a Head Design Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $126,278 in 2023 to around $125,552 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Head Design Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Head Design Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$126,278
2024
$126,520
2025
$125,552
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $126,278
2024 $126,520
2025 $125,552
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Head Design Manager

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Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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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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