Interior designers in the United States earn a median annual salary of $67,190, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data (May 2025). Most working designers earn between $41,420 and $114,140 a year, depending on experience, specialty, and location. Job-board averages, which sample more established full-time professionals, put the figure higher typically $72,000 to $84,000.
This guide breaks down interior designer pay by experience level, hourly rate, state, and industry, and explains what separates a designer’s income from a decorator’s. If you’re building a portfolio to enter the field, see our contemporary interior design guide, or if you’re planning your own space rather than working with a client, theHome Edit Guide covers practical room-by-room updates.
Quick Answer: Interior Designer Salary at a Glance
| Metric | Amount |
| BLS median annual salary | $67,190 |
| BLS median hourly rate | $32.31 |
| Bottom 10% of earners | Under $41,420 |
| Top 10% of earners | Over $114,140 |
| Job-board average (ZipRecruiter) | ~$72,849 |
| Job-board average (Indeed) | ~$83,799 |
| Typical entry-level range | $45,000–$55,000 |
| Typical senior-level range | $85,000–$110,000+ |
The BLS figure includes every worker officially classified as an interior designer part-time, entry-level, full-time, and self-employed. Job-board figures skew toward established, full-time, credentialed respondents, which is why their averages sit higher. Neither number is wrong; they’re measuring different segments of the same occupation.
How Much Does an Interior Designer Make by Experience Level?
Experience level is the strongest single predictor of interior designer pay.
Entry-level (0–3 years): $45,000–$55,000 a year. Junior designers typically support a lead designer drafting, sourcing materials, running errands on active projects rather than managing their own accounts.
Mid-level (3–8 years): $55,000–$78,000 a year. Designers at this stage usually manage projects independently and often pursue NCIDQ certification, which correlates with access to higher-paying work.
Senior-level (8+ years): $85,000–$110,000+ a year. Principal designers and design directors at established firms regularly clear six figures. At this level, income depends as much on business skills client retention, fee negotiation, team management as on design ability.
Interior Designer Hourly Rate
The BLS median hourly rate for interior designers is $32.31. This figure applies mainly to salaried employees. Designers who bill clients directly freelancers and independent practice owners — typically charge $50 to $200+ per hour, depending on region, specialization, and reputation. Some high-end residential and commercial designers charge a percentage of the total project budget instead of an hourly rate.
An hourly rate for a freelancer isn’t directly comparable to an hourly wage for an employee: freelance rates have to cover self-employment tax, software, insurance, and unbilled downtime between projects.
What Does an Interior Designer Do?
An interior designer plans the function and appearance of indoor spaces homes, offices, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and retail environments. Core responsibilities include:
- Meeting with clients to define project scope, function, and budget
- Producing floor plans, mood boards, and 3D renderings
- Selecting furniture, fabrics, lighting, flooring, and finishes
- Applying building codes, accessibility standards, and safety regulations
- Coordinating with architects, contractors, and tradespeople during construction
- Managing timelines, budgets, and vendor relationships from concept through installation
This mix of creative and technical work is why interior design pays more than many people assume, and why designers who never develop the technical or business side of the role tend to plateau in pay.
The job description varies by project type. A residential designer spends more time on client relationships, sourcing, and styling. A commercial designer spends more time on space planning, code compliance, and coordinating with contractors and engineers on tighter construction schedules. Both fall under the same job title, but the day-to-day work and the pay band that comes with it can look quite different.
What Is an Interior Designer?
An interior designer is a trained professional responsible for both the structure and appearance of a space layout, lighting plans, code compliance, and accessibility, in addition to aesthetics. In many US states, using the title “interior designer” for certain commercial or regulated work requires passing the NCIDQ exam.
The definition matters legally in states that regulate the title. In those states, calling yourself an “interior designer” without meeting licensing requirements can carry legal consequences if you’re performing regulated work, such as submitting code-compliant plans for permit approval. This is one reason the field has both licensed, registered professionals and a large population of unlicensed practitioners doing residential or decorative work under the same general title.
Interior Decorator Salary vs. Interior Designer Salary
Interior decorators typically earn $35,000 to $65,000 a year less on average than designers. Two factors explain the gap: decorators aren’t licensed for structural or code-related work, and decorating projects tend to be smaller in scope (styling a finished room) than design projects (overseeing a renovation or build-out).
What does an interior decorator do? A decorator focuses on the visual finish of a space color schemes, furniture selection, textiles, and accessories without the structural planning or regulatory responsibilities that fall to a licensed designer. Decorators generally don’t need a license or formal design education, though many complete design courses.
Interior Designer Salary by State
| State | Approx. Average Salary |
| California | $77,000 |
| New York | $75,900 |
| Connecticut | $73,000 |
| Colorado | $72,000 |
| Hawaii | $68,000 |
| Arizona | $60,000 |
| Georgia | $60,000 |
| Alabama | $55,000 |
| Florida | $52,000 |
| Arkansas | $52,000 |
Pay tracks cost of living and the size of the local luxury and commercial design market. Coastal states with strong high-end residential and hospitality sectors California, New York, Connecticut pay the most; states with lower costs of living and less luxury-market work average closer to $50,000–$55,000.
Which Industries Pay Interior Designers the Most?
BLS industry data shows median pay by sector:
- Architectural and engineering services: $78,340 the highest-paying sector, tied to large commercial and institutional projects
- Specialized design services (design firms): $67,870
- Construction: $63,330
- Retail trade: $50,560 lower on average, since roles here skew toward in-store consulting rather than full project management
Healthcare and hospitality design also tend to pay above average, largely due to the regulatory knowledge those projects require.
What Determines an Interior Designer’s Salary?
Five factors account for most of the variation in interior designer pay:
Experience and track record. As shown above, income rises steadily with years worked, but the bigger jump usually comes from an established portfolio and repeat or referral clients, not tenure alone.
Certification. NCIDQ-certified designers tend to access higher-paying commercial and regulated projects that unlicensed designers legally cannot take on in many states.
Specialization. Healthcare, hospitality, and high-end residential design pay above the field average because they require specialized regulatory knowledge or serve clients with larger budgets. General residential and retail work pays closer to the median.
Location. Metro areas with strong luxury or commercial real estate markets New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago pay more than smaller markets, partly due to cost of living and partly due to project size.
Employment structure. Salaried employees have predictable income within a set range. Self-employed and freelance designers have a wider range of outcomes: lower income in slow periods, but no ceiling tied to an employer’s pay scale.
Interior Design Education Requirements
Becoming an interior designer follows a defined path:
- Earn a degree. An associate degree covers entry-level or drafting roles. A bachelor of interior design (a four-year degree) is the standard for licensure and work at established firms. Programs cover design theory, CAD software, building codes, materials, and color theory. CIDA accreditation matters for NCIDQ eligibility.
- Complete work experience. Licensure paths require 3,520 to 5,280 documented work-experience hours, depending on degree level, usually under the supervision of a licensed designer or architect.
- Pass the NCIDQ exam. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam is the credential distinguishing a “licensed” or “registered” interior designer from an unlicensed one in most states. It covers design fundamentals, professional practice, and building codes.
- Meet state-specific requirements. Licensing rules vary by state. Some require registration and ongoing continuing education after the NCIDQ; others have no formal licensing requirement, though protected titles may still require it.
What do you need to be an interior designer? For unlicensed residential or decorating work, the barrier to entry is low. For commercial or licensed design work, the degree-experience-exam path above applies.
Where Do Interior Designers Work?
Interior designers work across several types of employers, each with a different pay profile and day-to-day scope:
- Independent design firms and studios: the most common setting, typically handling residential and small commercial projects.
- Architecture firms: often the highest-paying route, since projects are larger and designers work alongside architects on institutional or commercial builds.
- Furniture and home goods retailers: in-house designers help customers plan rooms around retail products; pay tends to be lower since the design scope is narrower.
- Hospitality companies: hotels, restaurants, and resort developers hire designers directly or through firms specializing in hospitality projects.
- Healthcare systems and senior living developers: a growing niche requiring knowledge of accessibility codes and infection-control standards, which pays above the field average.
- Self-employment: running an independent design practice, taking on residential and small commercial clients directly.
Self-employed designers make up a significant share of the field. Their income varies more than salaried employees’ lower in slow years, but potentially higher for designers with strong referral networks and established client bases. A self-employed designer’s reported “salary” is really net income after business expenses like software subscriptions, sample libraries, insurance, and marketing, which is worth factoring in when comparing it to a salaried figure.
Interior Design Career Outlook and Facts
Job growth for interior designers is projected to track roughly with the average for all occupations over the next decade, according to BLS projections. It’s not a fast-growing field, but demand is steady, tied to residential renovation activity, commercial buildouts, and an aging population that drives demand for accessible and healthcare-related design work.
A few facts worth knowing before entering the field:
- Most interior designers work at small firms or are self-employed, not at large corporations. Career growth often means building an independent practice rather than climbing a corporate ladder.
- Specialization healthcare, hospitality, sustainable/LEED design correlates with higher pay than general residential work.
- NCIDQ certification, while not mandatory in every state, is one of the more reliable ways to increase earning potential and qualify for regulated commercial projects.
- Portfolio quality and referral networks often affect income more than years of experience alone, especially for self-employed designers.
- Professional associations such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) provide continuing education and networking that can support career advancement, though membership isn’t required to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do interior designers make a year? The national median is $67,190, per BLS data. Job-board averages are typically $72,000–$84,000.
How much does an interior designer make an hour? The BLS median hourly rate is $32.31. Designers who bill clients directly often charge $50–$200+ per hour.
How much do interior designers get paid at entry level? $45,000–$55,000 a year is typical before moving into mid-level pay brackets.
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior decorator? A designer handles structure, layout, code compliance, and function in addition to aesthetics, and often requires licensing. A decorator handles visual styling only, with no structural or regulatory scope.
Do you need a bachelor’s degree to become an interior designer? Not for entry-level or decorating work, but a bachelor of interior design is standard for licensure and work at established firms.
Is interior design a well-paying career? It pays above the median for all US occupations ($50,980), but income varies widely by specialization, location, and client base.
