Design occupations n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time design occupations n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £39,779 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £740 above the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 136th of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
Median full-time pay: women £34,153 a year, men £42,000 a year.
ASHE counts roughly 26,000 employee jobs, 92% full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 37.7% (from £28,886), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 39,100 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £27,661 | £536.60 | £14.17 | £22,062* | £482.80* | £14.17 |
| 20th percentile | £31,272 | £613.30 | £15.92 | £28,513 | £576.60 | £15.85 |
| 25th percentile | £32,277 | £632.40 | £16.58 | £30,449 | £609.00 | £16.29 |
| 30th percentile | £33,411 | £651.60 | £16.87 | £32,000 | £632.40 | £16.77 |
| 40th percentile | £35,409 | £687.00 | £18.13 | £34,010 | £670.80 | £17.64 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £39,779 | £766.60 | £20.32 | £37,017 | £736.20 | £20.25 |
| 60th percentile | £42,655* | £833.60 | £22.80 | £41,484* | £807.60 | £22.26 |
| 70th percentile | £47,797* | £950.20 | £25.22* | £45,167* | £893.80 | £24.10* |
| 75th percentile | – | £1,007.40* | £25.99* | – | £989.80* | £25.88* |
| Mean | £44,633 | £867.00 | £22.95 | £41,839 | £820.60 | £22.80 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £28,886* | £562.90 | £14.80 | £27,961* | £522.60 | 13* |
| 2022 revised | £30,122* | £604.50 | £16.02 | £30,027 | £598.80 | 19* |
| 2023 revised | £38,574 | £726.90 | £19.56 | £37,603 | £692.60 | 22* |
| 2024 revised | £39,358 | £718.70 | £19.45 | £38,249 | £709.10 | 31 |
| 2025 provisional | £39,779 | £766.60 | £20.32 | £37,017 | £736.20 | 26 |
Design occupations n.e.c. by region
UK: 39,100 (± 7,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What design occupations n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group plan, direct and undertake the creation of designs for new industrial and commercial products, stage sets, and other areas not elsewhere classified in minor group 342: Design occupations. (ONS SOC 2020, 3429)
Also covers: design consultant, craft designer, make-up artist (films), production designer (film, television production), visual merchandiser (design), body designer, book designer, card designer, ceramic designer, cloth designer, colour stylist, commercial designer, designer (ceramics), designer (glassware), designer (scenery), designer (vehicles), glass designer and industrial designer (51 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Liaises with client to determine the purpose, cost, technical specification and potential uses/users of product
- Prepares sketches, designs, patterns, prototypes, mock-ups and storyboards for consideration by theatre/film director, management, sales department or a client
- Undertakes research to determine market trends, production requirements, availability of resources and formulates design concepts
- Specifies materials, production method and finish for aesthetic or functional effect, and oversees production of sample and/or finished product
- Observes and manages intellectual property issues
- Create many types of special effects make-up, which can include prosthetics
Entrants have usually completed a foundation course, BTEC/SQA award, degree and/or postgraduate qualification. A variety of vocational qualifications are available.
Related
Design occupations (median £37,596) · Clothing, fashion and accessories designers · Interior designers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026