Commercial and Industrial Designers pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,200 or more. The middle half of commercial and industrial designers in Durham earn between $72,870 and $102,440.
- $54K10th
- $73K25th
- $88KMedian
- $102K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,410 | $7,368 | $42.50 |
| Median | $88,190 | $7,349 | $42.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,870 | $6,072 | $35.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,440 | $8,537 | $49.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial and Industrial Designers pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Commercial and industrial designers in Durham earn 3% more than the North Carolina average ($85,460) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($93,260). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $83,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $88,410 | $88,190 | $54,140 | $131,200 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $85,460 | $80,620 | $48,830 | $134,040 | 1,000 |
| United States | $93,260 | $83,910 | $53,460 | $139,770 | 33,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $88,410, a single filer in Durham takes home about $68,008 a year, or $5,667 a month and $2,616 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for commercial and industrial designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $88,410 buys what about $90,610 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($93,960).
- Raleigh$93,960
- Charlotte$92,750
- Durham$88,410
- Greensboro$87,690
- Asheville$81,600
- Winston-Salem$79,900
- Hickory$74,600
All Commercial and Industrial Designers salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for commercial and industrial designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,840).
- San Jose, CA$148,840
- Wichita, KS$125,560
- Kiryas Joel, NY$124,950
- Seattle, WA$110,450
- Austin, TX$110,000
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Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in Durham: questions
How much do commercial and industrial designers make an hour in Durham?
$42.51 an hour on average, and $42.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level commercial and industrial designers salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial and industrial designers take-home pay in Durham?
About $68,008 a year ($5,667 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,410.
Do commercial and industrial designers earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($93,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1021; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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