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Interior designer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$67,190median pay per year, or $32.31 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $41,420lowest 10% earn less
  2. $51,84025th percentile
  3. $67,190median
  4. $85,74075th percentile
  5. $114,140top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median pay for interior designers was $67,190 a year in May 2025, above the median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.7%[3]
Openings per year
7,700[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do interior designers make?

The median wage for interior designers was $67,190 a year, or $32.31 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $74,540 a year, or $35.84 an hour[7].

The median is above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,420 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $114,140[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $41,420 $19.91
25th percentile[4][9] $51,840 $24.92
Median[1] $67,190 $32.31
75th percentile[4][9] $85,740 $41.22
90th percentile[4][9] $114,140 $54.87

These wages cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 26.4% of interior designers were self-employed in 2025[11], so these figures do not describe everyone in the field.

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage, at $98,450[12]. Wyoming came next at $96,100, but it had only 90 jobs[12]. California followed at $80,230, then Massachusetts at $80,110 and Colorado at $78,390[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median at $87,460[13]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA was second at $85,140, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH was third at $81,480[13].

The states with the most jobs were California (8,500), Florida (7,410), Texas (6,450), New York (5,340) and Georgia (3,050)[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (5,460), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (3,880) and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL (3,090)[15].

Show median pay in 48 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$98,450620
Wyoming$96,10090
California$80,2308,500
Massachusetts$80,1101,580
Colorado$78,3902,300
Washington$76,5701,330
Illinois$76,2902,570
New York$75,5805,340
New Jersey$74,0201,670
Minnesota$73,2701,220
Georgia$71,7603,050
Arkansas$69,990740
Oklahoma$68,520490
Connecticut$67,330630
Oregon$66,3501,030
South Dakota$65,220150
Texas$65,1606,450
Maryland$65,0701,440
Nebraska$64,870430
New Hampshire$64,140300
Vermont$63,870110
Maine$63,830230
South Carolina$63,790940
Hawaii$63,780270
Tennessee$63,6601,530
Alaska$63,32040
Wisconsin$62,7401,200
Indiana$62,5801,020
Virginia$62,5601,550
Pennsylvania$62,4001,820
Montana$61,770290
Utah$61,7401,110
Arizona$61,4601,600
Ohio$61,4102,180
North Carolina$61,4002,610
Kansas$61,090400
Alabama$61,050620
Florida$60,8607,410
New Mexico$60,85090
Louisiana$60,610350
Delaware$60,360190
Missouri$59,6101,010
Michigan$59,3401,930
Kentucky$59,240490
North Dakota$59,190160
Rhode Island$58,100550
Iowa$58,040510
West Virginia$49,80090
Mississippi$43,740330

How to become an interior designer

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training[6]. In an O*NET survey of 25 workers, 84% said a bachelor's degree is required[16].

BLS also names qualities that matter in this work: artistic ability, creativity, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, problem solving and a sense of proportion[22][23][24][25][26][27].

What interior designers do

O*NET describes the job as planning, designing and furnishing the inside of rooms or buildings so the spaces are practical and good-looking[28]. Tasks include:

Some designers specialize in a field, a style or a phase of the work[28]. Job titles reported by workers include color and materials designer, commercial interior designer and interior decorator[30].

Where they work

Offices are the usual workplace. Software has replaced drafting tables for making two- and three-dimensional images[31]. Designers also travel to clients' design sites[32].

Schedules can follow the client. Designers may meet clients in the evening or on weekends[33]. Specialized design services was the largest employer, at 30% of interior designers in 2025[34].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment will grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 97,100 to 99,700 jobs, a gain of 2,600[3]. That is below the 3.5% projected for all occupations[35]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

About 7,700 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs that appear when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.6% move to a different occupation[36].

OEWS counted about 71,500 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[37]. The projections count a larger group, since they include the self-employed[3].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][4][2]. The usual route is a bachelor's degree, and licensing rules depend on the state[6][19]. Growth is slower than the average for all occupations, though about 7,700 openings a year are projected[3][35][5]. The work involves client meetings and site visits, and some schedules shift to fit clients[29][32][33]. Checking your own state's rules before choosing a program is a sensible step[19].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[38].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an interior designer make an hour?
The median was $32.31 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $35.84[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $19.91 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $54.87[9].
What degree do you need to be an interior designer?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6][39]. It can be in any field, and fine arts subjects are the most common[17].
Do interior designers need a license?
It depends on the state. Some restrict the work, some restrict only the title, and some restrict neither[19].
Is interior design in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[3][35]. About 7,700 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for interior designers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median wage, at $98,450[12]. Wyoming was next at $96,100, and California was third at $80,230[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Interior Designers in the US was $67,190 per year and $32.31 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Interior Designers is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 97,100 to 99,700 jobs (a change of +2,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Interior Designers: 10th percentile $41,420, 25th percentile $51,840, 75th percentile $85,740, 90th percentile $114,140. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,700 openings for Interior Designers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Interior Designers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Interior Designers was $74,540 per year and $35.84 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Interior Designers: 10th percentile $19.91, 25th percentile $24.92, 75th percentile $41.22, 90th percentile $54.87. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 26.4% of Interior Designers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Interior Designers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Interior Designers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $87,460; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $85,140; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $81,480; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $80,640; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $80,150; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $80,000; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $79,720; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $79,590. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Interior Designers jobs: California 8,500; Florida 7,410; Texas 6,450; New York 5,340; Georgia 3,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Interior Designers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 5,460 (median $76,580); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,880 (median $80,000); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,090 (median $60,860); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,430 (median $72,490); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,420 (median $65,160); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,250 (median $76,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 27-1025.00 survey of workers (25 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 84% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. O*NET description of Interior Designers. O*NET OnLine
  29. O*NET task list for Interior Designers. O*NET OnLine
  30. O*NET 27-1025.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Kitchen Designer, Color and Materials Designer, Commercial Interior Designer, Decorating Consultant, Designer, Interior Decorator, Interior Design Consultant, Interior Design Coordinator. O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of interior designers in 2025: Specialized design services 30%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Interior Designers: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 71,500 people were employed as Interior Designers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  38. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
  39. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.