Commercial and Industrial Designers: how much of the work does AI already do?

What this means for your search

AI skills are optional for this role right now. Little use is seen so far.

See open commercial and industrial designers jobsBuild AI skills

Median pay

$83,910

What the job involves

• Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
• Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
• Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
• Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.

Related jobs that pay more or are less exposed

Chosen by overlap in skills and knowledge with commercial and industrial designers, so the move uses what you already know.

• Aerospace Engineers

  Pays about $51,000 more (median $134,960).

• Mechatronics Engineers

  Pays about $39,000 more (median $122,930).

• Materials Engineers

  Pays about $29,000 more (median $112,860).

• Automotive Engineers

  Pays about $20,000 more (median $104,110).

• Industrial Engineers

  Pays about $19,000 more (median $102,440).

Compare with a related job

• Commercial and Industrial Designers vs Aerospace Engineers: AI exposure, pay and openings
• Commercial and Industrial Designers vs Materials Engineers: AI exposure, pay and openings
• Commercial and Industrial Designers vs Mechanical Drafters: AI exposure, pay and openings

Prompts to run on your own résumé in any AI assistant

Has your employer filed layoff notices?

A separate question from AI exposure. This checks public WARN filings for the company you work for.

Check another job

Questions

Will AI replace commercial and industrial designers?

This data cannot say. It measures how much of the work AI is already used for today: 4% of the tasks, which is little observed. It is not a forecast of job loss.

How is the number worked out?

Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index, March 2026.

What do commercial and industrial designers earn?

The national median is $83,910 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Exposure: Anthropic Economic Index, March 2026. Pay and growth: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Tasks and skills: O*NET. All jobs.