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Boston Career Explorer

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

Also called: Design Engineer, Designer, Industrial Designer, Mechanical Designer, Mold Designer, Product Design Engineer

Median pay in Greater Boston
$102,530
$49.29/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,020
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+2.4%
80 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$77,020$82,020$102,530$132,050$161,370

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
  • Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
  • Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
  • Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
  • Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
  • Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure65 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 68
  • Language-model AIOE 60
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 66

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is moderate, and observed AI use is currently some. AI tools can help with sketches, drawings, and early design ideas. They are less able to handle the people side of the work: meeting with engineering, marketing, and customers, weighing safety and cost, and presenting designs for approval.

Likely to change

  • Preparing sketches and detailed drawings
  • Refining design ideas and variations

Still relies on people

  • Meeting with engineers, sales, and customers
  • Judging safety, cost, and production limits

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Structural Iron and Steel Workers

    Reading blueprints and specifications carries over directly. This apprenticeship trade has very low AI exposure and $120,840 median pay in Boston.

    Pay difference
    +$18,310 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Glaziers

    You can use your skill with drawings and specifications to plan installations. Glazing is an apprenticeship trade with $107,610 median pay.

    Pay difference
    +$5,080 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers

    Testing, checking results, and finding faults build on your habit of evaluating designs. The job pays $103,090 and includes long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$560 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +0.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

8 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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