Career comparison
Graphic Designer vs. Industrial Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial designers earn more at the median ($83,910 vs. $62,960), while graphic designers usually get to work faster (4 years or portfolio-based training of training). Graphic designers create logos, layouts and visuals that communicate ideas and build brands. Industrial designers design the products people use, from phones and chairs to cars and tools.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Graphic Designer | Industrial Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,960 ($30.27/hr) | $83,910 ($40.34/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,520 – $104,910 | $53,460 – $139,770 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -1.7% (a projected decline) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 16,000 | 2,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years or portfolio-based training | 4 years |
| Key credential | Adobe Certified Professional | SolidWorks certification |
| Work setting | Designers work in studios, offices or remotely, at computers for most of the day.. | Designers work in studios, offices, model shops and factories.. |
What each job does
Graphic Designer
- Meet with clients to understand goals
- Develop design concepts
- Design logos, layouts and graphics
- Select typography, color and images
- Prepare files for print and digital
Industrial Designer
- Research users and markets
- Sketch product concepts
- Create 3D CAD models
- Build prototypes
- Test designs with users
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work and indoor work. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose graphic designer if…
- I love visual design
- I notice fonts and layouts
- I take feedback well
Choose industrial designer if…
- I like designing objects
- I enjoy sketching and CAD
- I like solving practical problems
Still torn? Take the Graphic Designer fit quiz and the Industrial Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, graphic designer or industrial designer?
Industrial Designers earn more at the median: $83,910 versus $62,960 for graphic designers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Graphic Designers typically train faster (4 years or portfolio-based training) than industrial designers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial designers to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with -1.7% for graphic designers.