Career comparison
Industrial Designer vs. Mechanical Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mechanical engineers earn more at the median ($104,110 vs. $83,910), while industrial designers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Industrial designers design the products people use, from phones and chairs to cars and tools. Mechanical engineers design machines, engines, tools and products that move and work.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial Designer | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $83,910 ($40.34/hr) | $104,110 ($50.05/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $53,460 – $139,770 | $73,990 – $164,340 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.4% (slower than average) | +11.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 2,800 | 17,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | SolidWorks certification | Engineer in Training (EIT) |
| Work setting | Designers work in studios, offices, model shops and factories.. | Mechanical engineers work in offices, labs and plants.. |
What each job does
Industrial Designer
- Research users and markets
- Sketch product concepts
- Create 3D CAD models
- Build prototypes
- Test designs with users
Mechanical Engineer
- Design mechanical systems and products
- Create CAD models
- Analyze stress, heat and fluids
- Build and test prototypes
- Develop manufacturing processes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, problem-solving, indoor work, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, arts, media & design and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as creativity and problem solving.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial designer if…
- I like designing objects
- I enjoy sketching and CAD
- I like solving practical problems
Choose mechanical engineer if…
- I love how machines work
- I enjoy math and physics
- I like designing products
Still torn? Take the Industrial Designer fit quiz and the Mechanical Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial designer or mechanical engineer?
Mechanical Engineers earn more at the median: $104,110 versus $83,910 for industrial designers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Designers typically train faster (4 years) than mechanical engineers (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects mechanical engineers to grow +11.2% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for industrial designers.