Jobs Similar to Commercial and Industrial Designers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to commercial and industrial designers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Mechanical Drafters, Aerospace Engineers and Materials Engineers.
Commercial and Industrial Designers: $83,910 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Commercial and Industrial Designers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Drafters | 78% | $71,550−15% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Aerospace Engineers | 75% | $134,960+61% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Materials Engineers | 73% | $112,860+35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Automotive Engineers | 73% | $104,110Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 72% | $62,750−25% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Wind Energy Engineers | 72% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Mechatronics Engineers | 72% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Mechanical Engineers | 71% | $104,110+24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 71% | $76,870−8% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 71% | $66,150−21% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Industrial Engineers | 70% | $102,440+22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 69% | $99,280+18% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Chemical Engineers | 69% | $125,040+49% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Microsystems Engineers | 68% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 68% | $64,950−23% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Interior DesignersSame group | 68% | $67,190−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Materials Scientists | 68% | $117,790+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Electrical Engineers | 68% | $120,630+44% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Graphic DesignersSame group | 68% | $62,960−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 68% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Mechanical Drafters
78% similar · $71,550 (−15%) · Training or associate
- 2Aerospace Engineers
75% similar · $134,960 (+61%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Materials Engineers
73% similar · $112,860 (+35%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Automotive Engineers
73% similar · $104,110 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
72% similar · $62,750 (−25%) · Training or associate
- 6Wind Energy Engineers
72% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Mechatronics Engineers
72% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Mechanical Engineers
71% similar · $104,110 (+24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Electrical and Electronics Drafters
71% similar · $76,870 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 10Architectural and Civil Drafters
71% similar · $66,150 (−21%) · Training or associate
- 11Industrial Engineers
70% similar · $102,440 (+22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
69% similar · $99,280 (+18%) · Graduate degree
- 13Chemical Engineers
69% similar · $125,040 (+49%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Microsystems Engineers
68% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 15Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians
68% similar · $64,950 (−23%) · Training or associate
- 16Interior Designers
68% similar · $67,190 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 17Materials Scientists
68% similar · $117,790 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Electrical Engineers
68% similar · $120,630 (+44%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Graphic Designers
68% similar · $62,960 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 20Solar Energy Systems Engineers
68% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than commercial and industrial designers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Mechanical Drafters78% similar · Training or associate
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers72% similar · Training or associate
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters71% similar · Training or associate
- Architectural and Civil Drafters71% similar · Training or associate
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians68% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for commercial and industrial designers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where commercial and industrial designers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Mechanical Drafters (83)
- Automotive Engineers (73)
- Electrical and Electronics Drafters (73)
- Mechatronics Engineers (72)
- Wind Energy Engineers (72)
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (71)
- Materials Engineers (71)
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval (70)
- Architectural and Civil Drafters (70)
- Video Game Designers (68)
Questions about jobs like commercial and industrial designers
What jobs are most similar to commercial and industrial designers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Mechanical Drafters (78% similar), Aerospace Engineers (75% similar), Materials Engineers (73% similar), Automotive Engineers (73% similar) and Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (72% similar).
Which jobs like commercial and industrial designers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aerospace Engineers ($134,960, +61%; usually a bachelor's degree), Chemical Engineers ($125,040, +49%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Electrical Engineers ($120,630, +44%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with commercial and industrial designers ($83,910). Without more preparation than commercial and industrial designers usually need: Aerospace Engineers, Chemical Engineers and Electrical Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.