Landscape Architects
Median wage · national
$79,870
Range: $64K – $104K
Employed
20K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: bachelor's degree
STEM
Interior Designer
Interior Designer earn $67,190 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $51,840 and $85,740. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Interior Designer
Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
- Median Wage
- $67,190
- Employed Nationally
- 72K
- Openings / Year
- 7,800
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Bathroom Designer (Bath Designer)
Certified Kitchen Designer
Color and Materials Designer
Commercial Interior Designer
Decorating Consultant
How Much Do Interior Designers Make?
Interior Designer earn $67,190 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,840 and $85,740. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$67,190
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$52K–$86K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$51,840
Entry-level
$67,190
Median
$85,740
Experienced
What Do Interior Designers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Interior Designer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Social Perceptiveness
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Interior Designers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Interior Designers?
The BLS projects +3.2% employment change for Interior Designer through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 7,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.2%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
7,800
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
72K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Interior Designer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $67,190 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 8,360 | $77,360 | +15.1% |
| 2 | Florida | 7,090 | $60,200 | -10.4% |
| 3 | New York | 5,590 | $73,630 | +9.6% |
| 4 | Texas | 5,190 | $61,620 | -8.3% |
| 5 | Colorado | 2,800 | $72,740 | +8.3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Interior Designer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 5 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design | 36,019 | $51,490 | 1,238 |
| 2 | Apparel & Textiles | 2,961 | $57,640 | 135 |
| 3 | Interior Architecture | 850 | $60,369 | 53 |
| 4 | Environmental Design | 719 | $57,461 | 61 |
| 5 | Housing and Human Environments | 314 | $59,550 | 35 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Interior Designers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 5 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 91 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| 6 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | 91 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Interior Designer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Interior Designer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Interior Designer Pros & Cons
The data on Interior Designer shows 1 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $67,190 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $67,190 median while building the experience employers require.
Interior Designer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Interior Designer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Interior Designer is $67,190, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,840 and $85,740. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Interior Designer a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $67,190 median, with +3.2% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Interior Designer?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Design are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $67,190 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Interior Designer?
The BLS projects +3.2% employment change for Interior Designer through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 7,800 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 72K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Interior Designer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Interior Designer roles: Speaking, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, and Social Perceptiveness. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
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- Job outlook
- Career change
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