Interior designers are involved in designing and planning internal spaces. This includes helping the owners of the space realise their visions, turning them into reality. They need to design a space to be both aesthetically pleasing, and practical too.
Projects can cover a wide range of activities to achieve the end result. From some structural alterations, to choosing and procuring furnishings, wallpaper, curtains, and lighting. There is a great deal of room for creative freedom is most jobs, relying on the interior designers
The key skills of an interior designer include creativity, imagination, a keen eye for colour, the ability to visualise and explain concepts to others, good IT and graphic design skills, and an interest in current design trends. Interested in finding out more? Click here to learn how to become an interior designer.
Interior Designer Salary
How much do interior designers make? The average interior designers’ salary across the US is $53,370. The average, also known as the median wage, is calculated by taking the figure in which half the workers in the profession earned less than in one year, and half earned more than.
An interior designers starting salary is around $29,970. With the lowest 10% in the profession earning less than $29,970, and the highest 10% earning more than $94,130. Most interior designers work full-time, however the job often demands changing their hours around and is not a typical 9-5.
Freelance interior designers’ salaries can fluctuate a lot. There is a mix of jobs that either pay per job, or per hour. Making the freelance line of work less consistent, but allowing for a personal brand and style to be established. There are numerous well known interior designers who are hired due to their custom styling and reputation.
Top 5 Paying States
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Massachusetts | 0.30 | $32.48 | $67,550 |
 | Utah | 0.21 | $31.19 | $64,880 |
 | Connecticut | – | $30.81 | $64,090 |
 | New York | 0.38 | $30.59 | $63,630 |
 | Texas | 0.36 | $30.28 | $62,970 |
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | 0.02 | $36.41 | $75,730 |
| Electronic Markets Brokers and Agents | 0.04 | $31.89 | $66,320 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 0.01 | $29.77 | $61,910 |
| Management of Companies | 0.05 | $29.15 | $60,640 |
| Engineering, Architectural, and Related Services | 0.64 | $28.82 | $59,940 |
Interior Designer Job Description
Beautiful, functional indoor spaces are not put together by chance. They are designed by interior designers. So, what do interior designers do? The designers carefully plan out what they are going to do with a space, usually by drawing up some plans on some computer software to show the client. They combine their technical skills with artistic flair to create and arrange functional spaces that we all use.
You may not have thought it about it, but interior designers are responsible for your workspace, the shops you visit, and the layout of your home to mention a few examples. Some homeowners hire them to help with the furnishings and decor within their homes too.
A designer will first consult with the client/owner of the premises they will be designing. The designer will then create a detailed plan for approval, addressing any issues and going back and forth. This will include such considerations as furnishing styles, color schemes, specific items, materials to be used, and any themes to be adhered to. All within the specific budget.
During the initial interaction with the client, an interior designer must ask as many questions as possible to get a good impression of the client’s vision. Being able to create a design that meets the requirements of the client, and is as close to their perceived image as possible is very important.
The interior designer will be given a budget by the client, and required to buy all the materials within budget. This may involve some good negotiating and communication skills, and the ability to procure the materials. Other tradespeople will often carry out a lot of the interior work, especially building modifications, overseen by the interior designer.
A formally trained interior designer career will evolve over time as different design trends come in and out. There are a lot of industry trends to keep up with, there are often new techniques, materials, fashion movements, etc, so regular updating of industry knowledge is necessary.
Interior Designer Salary by State
| Flag | State | Employment per 1000 Jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Alabama | 0.168 | $25.28 | $52,580 |
| Alaska | – | $29.40 | $61,150 |
 | Arizona | 0.347 | $28.25 | $58,750 |
 | Arkansas | 0.101 | $21.65 | $45,030 |
 | California | 0.387 | $30.25 | $62,930 |
 | Colorado | 0.499 | $25.05 | $52,110 |
| Connecticut | – | $30.81 | $64,090 |
 | Delaware | 0.335 | $27.70 | $57,610 |
 | Florida | 0.509 | $23.20 | $48,260 |
 | Georgia | 0.362 | $23.91 | $49,730 |
 | Hawaii | 0.154 | $27.48 | $57,160 |
 | Idaho | 0.206 | $19.02 | $39,570 |
 | Illinois | 0.353 | $22.70 | $47,210 |
 | Indiana | 0.23 | $27.25 | $56,680 |
 | Iowa | 0.222 | $20.04 | $41,680 |
 | Kansas | 0.201 | $23.73 | $49,350 |
 | Kentucky | 0.149 | $26.96 | $56,070 |
 | Louisiana | 0.214 | $19.60 | $40,780 |
 | Maine | 0.153 | $26.81 | $55,770 |
 | Maryland | 0.376 | $24.10 | $50,130 |
| Massachusetts | 0.304 | $32.48 | $67,550 |
 | Michigan | 0.223 | $22.76 | $47,350 |
 | Minnesota | 0.279 | $22.24 | $46,250 |
 | Mississippi | 0.237 | $18.09 | $37,640 |
 | Missouri | 0.444 | $24.08 | $50,080 |
 | Montana | 0.152 | $20.56 | $42,770 |
 | Nebraska | 0.216 | $22.91 | $47,650 |
 | Nevada | 0.182 | $25.04 | $52,080 |
 | New Hampshire | 0.273 | $22.13 | $46,020 |
 | New Jersey | 0.437 | $27.63 | $57,460 |
 | New Mexico | 0.143 | $23.63 | $49,150 |
| New York | 0.383 | $30.59 | $63,630 |
 | North Carolina | 0.31 | $22.67 | $47,160 |
 | North Dakota | 0.236 | $18.86 | $39,240 |
 | Ohio | 0.291 | $22.41 | $46,600 |
 | Oklahoma | 0.179 | $22.24 | $46,260 |
 | Oregon | 0.507 | $22.43 | $46,660 |
 | Pennsylvania | 0.265 | $24.16 | $50,260 |
 | Rhode Island | 0.33 | – | – |
 | South Carolina | – | $18.12 | $37,690 |
 | South Dakota | 0.221 | $24.31 | $50,570 |
 | Tennessee | 0.254 | $21.83 | $45,410 |
 | Texas | 0.363 | $30.28 | $62,970 |
| Utah | 0.211 | $31.19 | $64,880 |
 | Vermont | – | $20.93 | $43,530 |
 | Virginia | 0.272 | $29.54 | $61,450 |
 | Washington | 0.547 | $24.82 | $51,620 |
 | West Virginia | 0.115 | $18.19 | $37,840 |
 | Wisconsin | 0.227 | $23.07 | $47,980 |
 | Wyoming | 0.178 | $24.84 | $51,670 |
Top paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara / Santa Maria / Goleta, – CA | 0.41 | $38.70 | $80,490 |
| San Francisco / San Mateo / Redwood City, – CA Metropolitan Division | 0.90 | $35.26 | $73,340 |
| Washington / Arlington / Alexandria, DC / VA / MD / WV, Metropolitan Division | 0.52 | $34.49 | $71,750 |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach / Glendale, CA – Metropolitan Division | 0.37 | $33.14 | $68,930 |
| San Jose / Sunnyvale / Santa Clara, CA | 0.28 | $33.10 | $68,840 |
Top paying non-metropolitan areas
| Area | Employment per 1000 jobs | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central Colorado – nonmetropolitan area | 1.23 | $26.44 | $55,000 |
| Western Colorado – nonmetropolitan area | – | $24.40 | $50,740 |
| Sussex County, – Delaware – nonmetropolitan area | 0.50 | $23.86 | $49,630 |
| Western North Carolina – nonmetropolitan area | 0.36 | $22.75 | $47,320 |
| Northern Mountains Region – California – nonmetropolitan area | 0.53 | $22.60 | $47,000 |
Interior Designer Job Outlook
The US Bureau of Labour Statistics report an expected 4% growth in the demand for interior designers between 2016 and 2026.
Redesigning large public buildings and spaces such as hotels, hospitals, and schools are long-term funding projects. Offering stability during tough economic times, and the chance for interior designers to develop their craft.
Self-employed and freelance interior designers can secure job security by crafting a style of design unique to themselves. Often being hired especially to put their own stamp on a design job.
