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Industrial/product designer : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
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Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries for a junior designer: £14,000 - £20,000.
  • Range of typical salaries with 10 years in the role: £20,000 - £40,000.
  • Senior product designers can earn up to £65,000 and sometimes even more.
  • Salary levels vary according to the size and type of employer. Salaries in London are likely to be higher.
  • Contracting tends to pay higher salaries but is highly dependent upon the consultant's reputation and client-base.
  • The role requires a flexible attitude to working hours in order to meet deadlines or to resolve design difficulties. Although extra hours should be expected, these will not normally include weekends or shifts.
  • The working environment is typically a shared studio/office and PC workstation, which may be situated in close proximity to the shop-floor production area to facilitate close liaison with production engineers.
  • Self-employment or freelance work is quite common but normally occurs after developing a track record of relevant industrial experience and a network of contacts and potential clients.
  • Although the industry welcomes more female entrants, there are still fewer women than men in the profession. Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE)  has been set up to encourage more women into the sector.
  • While jobs are available in all parts of the UK, there is a concentration of design consultancies in London and the South East. Point-of-sale manufacturers are concentrated in the East Midlands.
  • The dress code is normally relaxed and informal, reflecting the work environment. However, smarter business dress may be appropriate when meeting with potential new clients, negotiating new contracts or delivering product presentations.
  • Travel within a working day, absence from home overnight and overseas work may be needed occasionally.
 
AGCAS
Written by Andrea Gregory, AGCAS
Date: 
December 2010
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