Interior Designer Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Interior Designers
The median interior designer salary in the United States is $67,190 per year ($32.31/hour). Salaries range from $41,420 at the entry level to $114,140+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 71,500 interior designer jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 3.2% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Interior Designer Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for interior designers.
Interior designers plan + design interior spaces β residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail. Different from decorators: designers handle space planning + building codes + specifications + drawings. Entry $42-58k; mid-career $58-95k; senior at large firms $100-155k; principals at design firms + high-end residential $180-350k+. NCIDQ + state licensure required in many states.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Interior Designer
- 1Get an accredited degreeCIDA-accredited BFA or BA in Interior Design (4 years). Some states accept alternative paths + more experience.
- 2Log 2-4 years supervised experienceWork under an NCIDQ-certified designer to accumulate hours toward certification.
- 3Pass NCIDQ3 sections (Fundamentals + PPE + Practicum). Total $995 + prep. Required for licensed states + Senior roles.
- 4Get state license (where required)23 states + DC regulate interior design titles/practice. Reciprocity via NCIDQ.
- 5Specialize + build portfolioResidential + hospitality + healthcare + workplace + retail. Portfolio quality drives hiring more than degree.
Career Progression
- β’CAD/Revit drafting
- β’Materials + FF&E research
- β’Renderings + boards
- β’Log NCIDQ hours
- β’Own projects under senior
- β’Client presentations
- β’FF&E procurement
- β’Site visits + install
- β’Lead major projects
- β’Mentor + hire
- β’BD + client relationships
- β’Sign drawings (licensed)
- β’Firm strategy + BD
- β’Signature projects
- β’Team + P&L
- β’External profile
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through a project from programming to install.technical
Q2. How do you handle a budget-strapped client?situational
Q3. How do you approach materials selection?technical
Q4. Tell me about client + trade partner tension.behavioral
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Junior Designer (0-3 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈProduced CDs + FF&E specs for 12 residential + boutique hospitality projects totaling $18M in scope.
- βΈPassed 2 of 3 NCIDQ sections while logging 3,200+ supervised hours across 4 project types.
- βΈRendered + presented 25+ client concept boards using SketchUp + Enscape + InDesign.
- βΈManaged FF&E procurement + install for $450k boutique hotel refresh β on time + under budget.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak portfolio or no range across project types.
- βCant produce CDs unsupervised at mid-level.
- βNo building code knowledge.
- βPoor materials + finishes knowledge.
- βNo NCIDQ progress after 3-4 years.
- βCant handle client + trade communication.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βNCIDQ = $8-20k premium.
- βSpecialty (healthcare + hospitality + workplace) = $10-25k premium.
- βHigh-end residential firms pay differently β often lower base + higher project bonus.
- βBig architecture firms with ID practice = higher base + benefits.
- βMetro NYC/LA/SF/Miami = 15-25% premium.
- βSign-on: $3-15k common for licensed + senior.
- βCommercial + institutional firms pay more stable than boutique residential.
Interior Designer Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired interior designers. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Interior Designer Career Kit β $19
- β All 15 interview questions with expert answers
- β 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 7 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Interior Designer Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 | +46.5% |
| Wyoming | $96,100 | +43.0% |
| California | $80,230 | +19.4% |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 | +19.2% |
| Colorado | $78,390 | +16.7% |
| Washington | $76,570 | +14.0% |
| Illinois | $76,290 | +13.5% |
| New York | $75,580 | +12.5% |
| New Jersey | $74,020 | +10.2% |
| Minnesota | $73,270 | +9.0% |
Interior Designer Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,460 | +30.2% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $85,140 | +26.7% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $81,480 | +21.3% |
| Boulder, CO | $80,850 | +20.3% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,640 | +20.0% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $80,150 | +19.3% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,000 | +19.1% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $79,720 | +18.6% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $79,590 | +18.5% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,960 | +17.5% |