Industrial Design Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Industrial Design degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$123K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Industrial Design in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. Industrial Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD/3D Modeling and Prototyping. The adjusted starting salary in Philadelphia is approximately $75,000, growing to $123,000 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Industrial Design Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Industrial Design salary: $50,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Industrial Design ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Industrial Design degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$627,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($780,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Industrial Design in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Industrial Design
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Industrial Design in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Industrial Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Industrial Design Job Titles
Industrial Design in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Philadelphia
UX Design
$75K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$87K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$75K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$72K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$75K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$75K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$75K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$75K starting · 9 yr ROI
Industrial Design Degree in Philadelphia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Industrial Design ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Philadelphia.