Interior designer salary
BLS occupation: Interior Designers · Arts, design, media and sports · data for May 2025
Median salary $67,190 a year, US
Median hourly pay $32.31 an hour
Middle half earn $51,840–$85,740 25th to 75th percentile
Interior designers employed 71,500 +2.7% projected by 2035
How much does an interior designer make?
- The median interior designer salary in the US is $67,190 a year ($32.31 an hour): half of the 71,500 interior designers BLS counts earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) is $74,540.
- The middle half earn between $51,840 and $85,740. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $41,420 and the top 10% more than $114,140.
- That is 32% more than the median for all US workers ($50,980).
- The District of Columbia pays interior designers the most (median $98,450), followed by Wyoming ($96,100) and California ($80,230). Mississippi pays the least ($43,740).
- After adjusting for prices, the pay goes furthest in Wyoming, where the median is worth $103,678 in typical US prices, then the District of Columbia and Arkansas. The District of Columbia's higher pay is offset by its prices (109.9 vs a US average of 100).
- In 70 of the 182 metro areas with data, the median interior designer salary is enough to rent a typical home without spending more than 30% of income on rent.
- BLS projects the number of interior designers to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035 (all jobs: 3.5%), with about 7,700 openings a year. The typical entry education is a bachelor's degree.
official From BLS's survey of employers: what interior designers are actually paid, not job ads or self-reports. Adjusted figures are derived. How we calculate.
How does your pay compare?
Interior designer salary range
Half of interior designers earn between $51,840 and $85,740 a year
Yearly pay at each point of the range, US, May 2025. For comparison, the median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Lowest 10% earn under Yearly pay: $41,420
Lowest 25% earn under Yearly pay: $51,840
Median Yearly pay: $67,190
Top 25% earn over Yearly pay: $85,740
Top 10% earn over Yearly pay: $114,140
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Show the numbers
| Yearly pay | |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn under | $41,420 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $51,840 |
| Median | $67,190 |
| Top 25% earn over | $85,740 |
| Top 10% earn over | $114,140 |
Interior designer salary by state
The District of Columbia pays interior designers the most; Mississippi the least
Median yearly pay by state compared with the US median ($67,190), May 2025. Blue = higher pay.
- 20%+ below US
- 10–20% below
- 3–10% below
- Within 3%
- 3–10% above
- 10–20% above
- 20%+ above US
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025.
Show the numbers
| State | Median pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 median |
| Wyoming | $96,100 median |
| California | $80,230 median |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 median |
| Colorado | $78,390 median |
| Washington | $76,570 median |
| Illinois | $76,290 median |
| New York | $75,580 median |
| New Jersey | $74,020 median |
| Minnesota | $73,270 median |
| Georgia | $71,760 median |
| Arkansas | $69,990 median |
| Oklahoma | $68,520 median |
| Connecticut | $67,330 median |
| Oregon | $66,350 median |
| South Dakota | $65,220 median |
| Texas | $65,160 median |
| Maryland | $65,070 median |
| Nebraska | $64,870 median |
| New Hampshire | $64,140 median |
| Vermont | $63,870 median |
| Maine | $63,830 median |
| South Carolina | $63,790 median |
| Hawaii | $63,780 median |
| Tennessee | $63,660 median |
| Alaska | $63,320 median |
| Wisconsin | $62,740 median |
| Indiana | $62,580 median |
| Virginia | $62,560 median |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 median |
| Montana | $61,770 median |
| Utah | $61,740 median |
| Arizona | $61,460 median |
| Ohio | $61,410 median |
| North Carolina | $61,400 median |
| Kansas | $61,090 median |
| Alabama | $61,050 median |
| Florida | $60,860 median |
| New Mexico | $60,850 median |
| Louisiana | $60,610 median |
| Delaware | $60,360 median |
| Missouri | $59,610 median |
| Michigan | $59,340 median |
| Kentucky | $59,240 median |
| North Dakota | $59,190 median |
| Rhode Island | $58,100 median |
| Iowa | $58,040 median |
| West Virginia | $49,800 median |
| Mississippi | $43,740 median |
Where interior designer pay goes furthest
A salary buys more where prices are low. We divide each state's median by its price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, so every figure is in typical US prices. derived
Interior designers' pay goes furthest in Wyoming once prices are counted
Median pay ÷ the state's price level (BEA, 2024; US = 100), shown in typical US prices. Top 10 states.
US median
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Our calculation.
Show the numbers
| Worth, in US prices | |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | $103,678 |
| District of Columbia | $89,581 |
| Arkansas | $80,507 |
| Oklahoma | $78,003 |
| Illinois | $76,322 |
| Colorado | $76,068 |
| Massachusetts | $75,749 |
| Georgia | $74,523 |
| Minnesota | $74,295 |
| South Dakota | $73,623 |
Interior designer pay in every state
| State | Median a year | Hourly | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Employed | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 | $47.33 | $66,930 | $140,870 | 620 | $89,581 |
| Wyoming | $96,100 | $46.20 | $21,290 | $145,600 | 90 | $103,678 |
| California | $80,230 | $38.57 | $50,940 | $131,770 | 8,500 | $72,462 |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 | $38.51 | $52,230 | $123,100 | 1,580 | $75,749 |
| Colorado | $78,390 | $37.69 | $48,830 | $133,810 | 2,300 | $76,068 |
| Washington | $76,570 | $36.81 | $48,050 | $109,820 | 1,330 | $71,552 |
| Illinois | $76,290 | $36.68 | $44,620 | $131,990 | 2,570 | $76,322 |
| New York | $75,580 | $36.34 | $35,990 | $125,620 | 5,340 | $70,033 |
| New Jersey | $74,020 | $35.59 | $46,890 | $134,780 | 1,670 | $68,030 |
| Minnesota | $73,270 | $35.23 | $41,280 | $103,010 | 1,220 | $74,295 |
| Georgia | $71,760 | $34.50 | $45,190 | $123,820 | 3,050 | $74,523 |
| Arkansas | $69,990 | $33.65 | $45,390 | $137,160 | 740 | $80,507 |
| Oklahoma | $68,520 | $32.94 | $38,460 | $105,380 | 490 | $78,003 |
| Connecticut | $67,330 | $32.37 | $44,320 | $117,610 | 630 | $64,984 |
| Oregon | $66,350 | $31.90 | $48,570 | $104,040 | 1,030 | $64,192 |
| South Dakota | $65,220 | $31.36 | $46,650 | $124,490 | 150 | $73,623 |
| Texas | $65,160 | $31.33 | $39,430 | $103,850 | 6,450 | $67,136 |
| Maryland | $65,070 | $31.28 | $45,850 | $99,330 | 1,440 | $61,996 |
| Nebraska | $64,870 | $31.19 | $43,840 | $100,200 | 430 | $71,995 |
| New Hampshire | $64,140 | $30.84 | $38,330 | $97,070 | 300 | $61,575 |
| Vermont | $63,870 | $30.71 | $43,600 | $136,150 | 110 | $65,201 |
| Maine | $63,830 | $30.69 | $34,280 | $93,840 | 230 | $65,770 |
| South Carolina | $63,790 | $30.67 | $40,720 | $101,360 | 940 | $68,043 |
| Hawaii | $63,780 | $30.66 | $45,930 | $121,480 | 270 | $58,008 |
| Tennessee | $63,660 | $30.61 | $40,240 | $101,460 | 1,530 | $69,294 |
| Alaska | $63,320 | $30.44 | $44,980 | $114,740 | 40 | $61,861 |
| Wisconsin | $62,740 | $30.16 | $35,740 | $99,940 | 1,200 | $66,677 |
| Indiana | $62,580 | $30.09 | $40,860 | $94,750 | 1,020 | $67,053 |
| Virginia | $62,560 | $30.08 | $43,230 | $100,030 | 1,550 | $61,877 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $30.00 | $44,470 | $97,820 | 1,820 | $63,953 |
| Montana | $61,770 | $29.70 | $31,540 | $86,070 | 290 | $65,265 |
| Utah | $61,740 | $29.68 | $48,130 | $96,590 | 1,110 | $62,449 |
| Arizona | $61,460 | $29.55 | $48,380 | $97,850 | 1,600 | $61,047 |
| Ohio | $61,410 | $29.52 | $47,080 | $103,530 | 2,180 | $66,193 |
| North Carolina | $61,400 | $29.52 | $39,870 | $100,450 | 2,610 | $65,093 |
| Kansas | $61,090 | $29.37 | $43,040 | $94,380 | 400 | $67,827 |
| Alabama | $61,050 | $29.35 | $32,560 | $103,030 | 620 | $68,732 |
| Florida | $60,860 | $29.26 | $39,050 | $96,930 | 7,410 | $58,851 |
| New Mexico | $60,850 | $29.25 | $41,480 | $90,540 | 90 | $65,989 |
| Louisiana | $60,610 | $29.14 | $37,500 | $81,280 | 350 | $68,713 |
| Delaware | $60,360 | $29.02 | $48,770 | $86,890 | 190 | $60,476 |
| Missouri | $59,610 | $28.66 | $44,360 | $103,440 | 1,010 | $65,637 |
| Michigan | $59,340 | $28.53 | $32,800 | $97,400 | 1,930 | $61,673 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 | $28.48 | $38,690 | $97,470 | 490 | $65,706 |
| North Dakota | $59,190 | $28.46 | $39,100 | $84,960 | 160 | $66,536 |
| Rhode Island | $58,100 | $27.93 | $50,270 | $99,990 | 550 | $56,805 |
| Iowa | $58,040 | $27.90 | $39,510 | $118,770 | 510 | $66,133 |
| West Virginia | $49,800 | $23.94 | $38,130 | $77,510 | 90 | $55,644 |
| Mississippi | $43,740 | $21.03 | $31,660 | $88,710 | 330 | $50,303 |
BLS does not publish pay for interior designers in 2 states (too few workers to estimate reliably). After cost of living = median ÷ (BEA price level ÷ 100).
Interior designer salary by city
Metro areas where BLS publishes interior designer pay: 183 of 387. Rent share = typical rent (September 2026, Zillow) × 12 ÷ the median salary; under 30% is affordable by the usual rule.
Highest-paying metro areas
- San Francisco, CA $87,460
- San Jose, CA $85,140
- Boston, MA $81,480
- Boulder, CO $80,850
- San Diego, CA $80,640
- Denver, CO $80,150
- Los Angeles, CA $80,000
- Las Vegas, NV $79,720
- Washington, DC $79,590
- Santa Maria, CA $78,960
Where the pay goes furthest
- Huntsville, AL $84,075
- Burlington, NC $83,255
- Tulsa, OK $80,335
- Akron, OH $80,026
- Austin, TX $79,936
- Las Vegas, NV $79,549
- San Jose, CA $77,104
- Boulder, CO $76,852
- Bakersfield, CA $76,106
- Fort Collins, CO $75,943
All 183 metro areas
| Metro area | Median a year | Employed | After cost of living | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $87,460 | 1,810 | $75,649 | 47% |
| San Jose, CA | $85,140 | 340 | $77,104 | 54% |
| Boston, MA | $81,480 | 1,290 | $75,259 | 44% |
| Boulder, CO | $80,850 | 90 | $76,852 | 33% |
| San Diego, CA | $80,640 | 820 | $72,073 | 44% |
| Denver, CO | $80,150 | 1,500 | $75,769 | 28% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $80,000 | 3,880 | $70,444 | 44% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $79,720 | 460 | $79,549 | 26% |
| Washington, DC | $79,590 | 1,840 | $73,096 | 36% |
| Santa Maria, CA | $78,960 | 110 | $72,575 | 50% |
| Seattle, WA | $78,810 | 970 | $70,915 | 34% |
| Austin, TX | $78,390 | 1,090 | $79,936 | 25% |
| Huntsville, AL | $78,250 | 80 | $84,075 | 21% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $78,000 | 50 | $71,826 | 43% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $77,970 | 110 | $72,339 | 41% |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,690 | 300 | $72,832 | 35% |
| Burlington, NC | $77,590 | 30 | $83,255 | 21% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $76,800 | 110 | $75,943 | 31% |
| Bakersfield, CA | $76,780 | 50 | $76,106 | 28% |
| Fresno, CA | $76,770 | 80 | $75,148 | 32% |
| New York, NY | $76,580 | 5,460 | $68,033 | 56% |
| Chicago, IL | $76,570 | 2,250 | $73,913 | 34% |
| Riverside, CA | $76,090 | 340 | $71,485 | 40% |
| Oxnard, CA | $75,290 | 100 | $68,115 | 47% |
| Naples, FL | $75,210 | 400 | $72,878 | 42% |
| Akron, OH | $74,720 | 120 | $80,026 | 21% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $74,680 | 1,030 | $71,245 | 28% |
| Kahului, HI | $73,810 | 40 | $67,472 | 52% |
| Portland, OR | $73,700 | 760 | $69,910 | 29% |
| Santa Fe, NM | $72,800 | 40 | $73,709 | 32% |
| Atlanta, GA | $72,490 | 2,430 | $72,448 | 31% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | $72,490 | 50 | $73,328 | 34% |
| Charleston, SC | $72,400 | 260 | $71,710 | 34% |
| Tulsa, OK | $71,670 | 190 | $80,335 | 23% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $71,060 | 260 | $66,496 | 49% |
| Gainesville, FL | $70,930 | 50 | $73,326 | 28% |
| Springfield, MA | $70,910 | 40 | $73,818 | 33% |
| Salinas, CA | $70,630 | 60 | $64,773 | 47% |
| Bremerton, WA | $70,510 | 40 | $66,766 | 35% |
| Nashville, TN | $69,770 | 880 | $72,422 | 31% |
| Hartford, CT | $69,150 | 160 | $67,302 | 35% |
| Lincoln, NE | $68,640 | 90 | $74,950 | 22% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $68,520 | 250 | $75,790 | 24% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $68,200 | 90 | $75,250 | 22% |
| Greeley, CO | $68,080 | 40 | $67,960 | 30% |
| Columbia, MO | $67,780 | 80 | $75,784 | 26% |
| Manchester, NH | $67,740 | 80 | $64,113 | 38% |
| Barnstable, MA | $67,660 | 90 | $68,794 | 46% |
| Salisbury, MD | $67,580 | 30 | $70,678 | 35% |
| Trenton, NJ | $67,310 | 80 | $65,236 | 45% |
| Crestview, FL | $67,230 | 100 | $69,287 | 35% |
| Omaha, NE | $67,120 | 270 | $73,027 | 25% |
| Bellingham, WA | $66,810 | 40 | $64,654 | 35% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $66,440 | 130 | $65,974 | 32% |
| Portland, ME | $66,260 | 140 | $65,051 | 42% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $66,150 | 500 | $69,125 | 28% |
| Burlington, VT | $65,950 | 40 | $65,330 | 47% |
| Stockton, CA | $65,520 | 30 | $62,347 | 45% |
| Dallas, TX | $65,160 | 2,420 | $63,207 | 31% |
| Kansas City, MO | $65,160 | 500 | $70,411 | 28% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $65,140 | 80 | $66,031 | 27% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $64,800 | 1,170 | $63,186 | 35% |
| Madison, WI | $64,780 | 220 | $66,586 | 33% |
| Salem, OR | $64,750 | 50 | $62,470 | 31% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $64,550 | 420 | $66,590 | 29% |
| Raleigh, NC | $64,480 | 470 | $65,691 | 31% |
| Champaign, IL | $64,440 | 30 | $69,512 | 26% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $64,380 | 40 | $70,708 | 27% |
| Charlotte, NC | $64,370 | 1,000 | $66,124 | 32% |
| Bend, OR | $64,260 | – | $62,023 | 41% |
| Wichita, KS | $64,220 | 100 | $72,201 | 23% |
| Athens, GA | $63,520 | 50 | $68,050 | 34% |
| South Bend, IN | $63,090 | 40 | $67,942 | 24% |
| Baltimore, MD | $63,080 | 710 | $60,371 | 37% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $62,790 | 100 | $68,650 | 29% |
| Columbia, SC | $62,720 | 110 | $66,964 | 30% |
| Little Rock, AR | $62,700 | 170 | $70,162 | 24% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $62,510 | 570 | $61,972 | 32% |
| New Haven, CT | $62,460 | 140 | $59,737 | 39% |
| Cleveland, OH | $62,380 | 470 | $66,416 | 28% |
| Boise, ID | $62,360 | 190 | $63,380 | 37% |
| Honolulu, HI | $62,330 | 180 | $56,173 | 58% |
| Green Bay, WI | $62,320 | 80 | $66,949 | 22% |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $62,200 | 80 | $63,458 | 38% |
| Columbus, OH | $62,180 | 670 | $65,131 | 29% |
| Worcester, MA | $62,180 | 110 | $60,650 | 41% |
| Augusta, GA | $62,050 | 50 | $67,517 | 28% |
| Birmingham, AL | $62,000 | 240 | $67,653 | 27% |
| La Crosse, WI | $61,890 | 30 | $67,441 | 26% |
| Tampa, FL | $61,850 | 900 | $61,304 | 39% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,830 | 80 | $67,175 | 30% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $61,810 | 1,320 | $59,826 | 33% |
| Knoxville, TN | $61,770 | 200 | $66,729 | 34% |
| Sebastian, FL | $61,740 | 60 | $62,803 | 41% |
| Roanoke, VA | $61,730 | 60 | $65,938 | 27% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $61,720 | 460 | $64,716 | 30% |
| Bozeman, MT | $61,710 | 130 | $60,199 | 43% |
| Durham, NC | $61,670 | 160 | $63,205 | 32% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $61,650 | 250 | $61,970 | 33% |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,570 | 470 | $64,751 | 28% |
| San Antonio, TX | $61,510 | 390 | $64,942 | 28% |
| Orlando, FL | $61,430 | 1,060 | $60,571 | 38% |
| Spokane, WA | $61,310 | 120 | $61,099 | 30% |
| Greensboro, NC | $61,300 | 170 | $66,010 | 28% |
| Savannah, GA | $61,290 | 100 | $64,376 | 35% |
| Lancaster, PA | $61,240 | 90 | $62,326 | 31% |
| Houston, TX | $61,220 | 1,460 | $62,071 | 32% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $61,110 | 80 | $66,013 | 25% |
| Montgomery, AL | $61,060 | 70 | $68,085 | 27% |
| Billings, MT | $61,010 | 40 | $65,233 | 27% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $60,980 | 100 | $67,173 | 27% |
| Miami, FL | $60,860 | 3,090 | $53,313 | 52% |
| New Orleans, LA | $60,810 | 120 | $65,672 | 31% |
| Dayton, OH | $60,770 | 80 | $65,560 | 26% |
| Greenville, SC | $60,760 | 240 | $65,151 | 31% |
| Scranton, PA | $60,690 | 40 | $64,870 | 27% |
| Ogden, UT | $60,520 | 90 | $60,310 | 32% |
| Fargo, ND | $60,450 | 70 | $66,523 | 22% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $60,440 | 370 | $63,257 | 32% |
| Bloomington, IL | $60,420 | 30 | $64,595 | 26% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $60,380 | 320 | $63,779 | 29% |
| Slidell, LA | $60,270 | 30 | $64,998 | – |
| Hickory, NC | $60,250 | 60 | $68,090 | 32% |
| Lexington, KY | $60,200 | 140 | $64,809 | 32% |
| Asheville, NC | $60,160 | – | $62,338 | 34% |
| Louisville, KY | $60,020 | 210 | $64,486 | 27% |
| Toledo, OH | $59,990 | 90 | $65,595 | 25% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $59,920 | 240 | $61,180 | 38% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | $59,820 | 60 | $63,075 | 26% |
| Cape Coral, FL | $59,610 | 220 | $58,242 | 37% |
| Waterloo, IA | $59,470 | 40 | $68,312 | 21% |
| Lansing, MI | $59,450 | 40 | $62,585 | 26% |
| York, PA | $59,370 | 40 | $61,844 | 28% |
| Charlottesville, VA | $59,290 | 50 | $59,801 | 41% |
| Allentown, PA | $59,280 | 70 | $59,299 | 37% |
| Detroit, MI | $59,210 | 990 | $59,034 | 31% |
| Provo, UT | $59,170 | 180 | $60,235 | 36% |
| St. George, UT | $59,130 | 60 | $60,758 | 38% |
| Panama City, FL | $58,910 | 50 | $60,547 | 35% |
| Iowa City, IA | $58,890 | 50 | $64,354 | 36% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $58,860 | 90 | $58,726 | 47% |
| Richmond, VA | $58,790 | 400 | $60,077 | 35% |
| Daphne, AL | $58,730 | 40 | $62,023 | 35% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $58,600 | 90 | $58,089 | 39% |
| Memphis, TN | $58,600 | 220 | $63,572 | 29% |
| North Port, FL | $58,270 | 370 | $56,895 | 43% |
| Mobile, AL | $58,260 | 50 | $66,131 | 26% |
| Pensacola, FL | $58,160 | 100 | $59,519 | 36% |
| Rochester, NY | $58,130 | 170 | $59,906 | 32% |
| Tucson, AZ | $58,110 | 130 | $59,972 | 31% |
| Providence, RI | $58,100 | 590 | $57,088 | 45% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $58,090 | 70 | $62,034 | 36% |
| Lafayette, LA | $57,900 | – | $66,392 | 29% |
| Des Moines, IA | $57,840 | 190 | $63,075 | 27% |
| Eugene, OR | $57,730 | 50 | $56,839 | 37% |
| El Paso, TX | $57,650 | 60 | $64,118 | 32% |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $57,320 | 130 | $52,384 | 47% |
| Greenville, NC | $56,990 | 30 | $64,467 | 31% |
| Tallahassee, FL | $56,870 | 60 | $60,552 | 31% |
| Ocala, FL | $56,480 | 30 | $59,307 | 34% |
| Buffalo, NY | $56,420 | 150 | $58,866 | 31% |
| Appleton, WI | $55,780 | 40 | $60,356 | 26% |
| Bismarck, ND | $55,540 | 40 | $61,017 | 28% |
| Albany, NY | $55,380 | 150 | $55,621 | 37% |
| Lakeland, FL | $55,070 | 90 | $56,691 | 40% |
| Youngstown, OH | $54,760 | 30 | $62,659 | 23% |
| Lubbock, TX | $54,610 | 30 | $59,803 | 29% |
| Albuquerque, NM | $54,530 | 40 | $57,072 | 33% |
| Syracuse, NY | $54,470 | 70 | $56,892 | 36% |
| Davenport, IA | $52,410 | 40 | $58,835 | 23% |
| Springfield, MO | $52,090 | 80 | $58,802 | 29% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $51,810 | 40 | $55,832 | 27% |
| Deltona, FL | $50,860 | 80 | $51,184 | 42% |
| Utica, NY | $50,770 | 40 | $54,781 | 34% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,300 | 50 | $56,540 | 29% |
| Tyler, TX | $48,960 | 40 | $53,127 | 32% |
| Palm Bay, FL | $48,550 | 100 | $48,548 | 47% |
| Flint, MI | $48,510 | 30 | $52,142 | 26% |
| Columbus, GA | $47,780 | 40 | $53,507 | 34% |
| Wilmington, NC | $47,750 | 140 | $49,522 | 44% |
| McAllen, TX | $46,850 | 40 | $54,543 | 29% |
| Waco, TX | $46,530 | 40 | $50,276 | 37% |
| Gulfport, MS | $45,070 | 30 | $50,074 | 38% |
What the median interior designer salary pays per paycheck
| Period | Before taxes |
|---|---|
| Year | $67,190 |
| Month | $5,599 |
| Every two weeks | $2,584 |
| Week | $1,292 |
| Hour | $32.31 |
Gross pay, 52 weeks a year, 2,080 hours. Hourly to salary calculator.
Becoming an interior designer: education and job outlook
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Work experience needed | None |
| On-the-job training | None |
| Projected change in jobs, 2025–35 | +2.7% (all jobs: +3.5%) |
| Openings a year (average) | 7,700 |
| Self-employed | 26.4% |
official BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. Openings include workers who retire or change jobs. What the work involves: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Similar jobs
| Job | Median a year | Typical education |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic designer | $62,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| Journalist | $62,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Photographer | $44,660 | High school diploma |
| Court reporter | $72,420 | Postsecondary certificate |
Questions about interior designer pay
How much does an interior designer make an hour?
The median is $32.31 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $19.91 and the top 10% over $54.87.
How much does an interior designer make a month?
About $5,599 a month before taxes at the median salary of $67,190, or $2,584 every two weeks.
What state pays interior designers the most?
The District of Columbia, with a median of $98,450. Wyoming ($96,100), California ($80,230), Massachusetts ($80,110) and Colorado ($78,390) follow.
Where do interior designers make the most after cost of living?
Wyoming: its median of $96,100 is worth $103,678 at typical US prices. The District of Columbia, Arkansas and Oklahoma come next.
How much do entry-level interior designers make?
BLS does not report pay by experience. The lowest-paid 10% of interior designers earn under $41,420 a year, and the lowest-paid quarter under $51,840, which is a reasonable guide to starting pay.
What education do you need to become an interior designer?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as a bachelor's degree. Work experience in a related job: none. On-the-job training: none.
Sources and limits
- Pay and employment: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation 27-1025 (Interior Designers). Downloaded 2026-10-24.
- OEWS counts wage and salary workers at employers, including tips and commissions but not overtime pay, bonuses that are not tied to production, or benefits. It leaves out the self-employed. BLS does not publish figures above $239,200 a year or for states and metro areas with too few workers.
- Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (US = 100). Rents: Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; Data Provided by Zillow Group.
- Outlook and education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35.
- Pay is not broken down by experience, employer or specialty (for example, ER or pediatric nursing); BLS does not publish those splits.