Commercial Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Commercial Designer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Commercial Designer in the United States is $54,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $63,377
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $48,175 to $58,996
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,705

Key Factors That Influence Commercial Designer Salaries

A Commercial Designer'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 Commercial Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Commercial Designer'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): $53,829
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,833
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,064
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $80,826
  • Expert (over 8 years): $93,630
Levels Salary
Commercia... Level Commercial Designer$53,829
Interior ... Level Commercial Designer$60,833
Interior ... Level Commercial Designer$70,064
Interior ... Level Commercial Designer$80,826
Interior ... Level Commercial Designer$93,630

Top Paying Cities for Commercial Designers

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: $68,341
  • San Francisco: $67,593
  • Oakland: $66,169

What Skills Can Increase a Commercial Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.76% 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.
  • Space Planning (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Analyzing, organizing, and building interior design layouts to maximize available space in accordance with client's specifications.
  • Business Model (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): The term business model refers to a company's plan for making a profit. It identifies the products or services the business plans to sell, its identified target market, and any anticipated expenses.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.76%
Space Planning 2.04%
Business Model 1.37%

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 Commercial Designer's salary.

  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Architectural Design: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communication Skills $60,143
11%
Architectural Design $57,434
6%
Consulting $56,892
5%

Commercial Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Commercial Designer roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Commercial Designer positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Commercial Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Commercial Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$59,602$29.010%

How Education impacts a Commercial Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Commercial Designers 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 Commercial Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $47,685 and $53,093).

Commercial Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Commercial Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 4.2%
Associates 11.8%
Bachelors 75.6%
Masters 8.0%
Doctorate 0.1%

Commercial Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Commercial Designer'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
$48,175
Average $54,183/year
$58,996
$4,015
Average $4,515/month
$4,916
$926
Average $1,042/week
$1,135
$23
Average $26/hour
$28
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $58,996 $4,916 $1,135 $28
Average $54,183 $4,515 $1,042 $26
25th Percentile $48,175 $4,015 $926 $23

Most common benefits for Commercial Designer

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

Common company salaries for Commercial Designer

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

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FAQ about Commercial Designer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Commercial Designer?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Commercial Designer roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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