Commercial and industrial designers
SOC Code: 27-1021
Commercial and industrial designers carries a 33% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $79,450 and +3.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 30,600 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Commercial and industrial designers (SOC 27-1021) carries an AI exposure score of 33%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 30,600 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.2% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $79,450, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Commercial and industrial designers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
- 2. Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
- 3. Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
- 4. Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
- 5. Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
- 6. Develop industrial standards and regulatory guidelines.
- 7. Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
- 8. Coordinate the look and function of product lines.
- 9. Direct and coordinate the fabrication of models or samples and the drafting of working drawings and specification sheets from sketches.
- 10. Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using, and maintaining it.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Operations Analysis
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge Areas
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics
- Sales and Marketing
- Administrative
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Commercial and industrial designers?
Commercial and industrial designers has an AI exposure score of 33%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Commercial and industrial designers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Commercial and industrial designers is projected to grow by 3.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 30,600 workers.
What skills are needed for Commercial and industrial designers?
Key skills for Commercial and industrial designers include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Commercial and industrial designers earn?
The median annual wage for Commercial and industrial designers is $79,450, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Commercial and industrial designers?
The typical entry-level education for Commercial and industrial designers is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Commercial and industrial designers?
Commercial and industrial designers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).