Interior Designer Salary in 2026
Interior designers plan and design interior spaces for functionality, safety, and aesthetics. They select furnishings, colors, materials, and lighting to create cohesive environments.
Median Salary
$57,000
$4,750/mo
Entry Level
$38,000
starting pay
Senior Level
$79,000
experienced
Job Growth
+4%
10-yr outlook
Interior Designer Overview
Interior designers plan and design interior spaces for functionality, safety, and aesthetics. They select furnishings, colors, materials, and lighting to create cohesive environments.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
2-4 years
Industry
Creative
Total Jobs (US)
80K
5-Year Growth
+11%
Category
Creative
Hourly Rate
$27.40/hr
Monthly Pay
$4,750
Interior Designer Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Interior Designer salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Interior Designer Salary
$65,000
$5,417/month · $2,500/biweekly · $31.25/hr
Interior Designer Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Interior Designer field.
Entry-level Interior Designers earn around $38,000, while the top 10% earn $94,500 or more.
Top Paying States for Interior Designers
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $67,000 | +$10,000 |
| New York | $66,000 | +$9,000 |
| Illinois | $59,000 | +$2,000 |
| Florida | $56,000 | $-1,000 |
| Texas | $56,000 | $-1,000 |
Top Paying Cities for Interior Designers
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $67,000 | +$10,000 |
| Los Angeles | $64,000 | +$7,000 |
| Chicago | $60,000 | +$3,000 |
| Miami | $58,000 | +$1,000 |
| Dallas | $57,000 | $0 |
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Interior Designer Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Interior Designer from entry level to expert.
$38,000
0-2 years
$59,000
3-7 years
$79,000
8-14 years
$110,000
15+ years
Related Creative Jobs
Interior Designer Salary FAQ
Methodology & Data Sources — Interior Designer Salary
How we calculate Interior Designer salary data: Our figures combine BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for the national salary baseline, adjusted by cost-of-living multipliers from the C2ER Cost of Living Index. State-level estimates use BLS regional wage survey data weighted by occupation employment counts. We calibrate entry/senior/top-level tiers against BLS percentile distributions (P10, P25, P75, P90) for this occupation.
- National median salary: $57,000 — sourced from BLS OEWS for SOC code corresponding to Interior Designer in the Creative sector.
- Entry-level ($38,000) and senior-level ($79,000) figures reflect BLS P25 and P75 percentile wage estimates adjusted for experience.
- Job outlook: +4% projected growth through 2034, from BLS Employment Projections program. Approximately 80K total positions nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 11% over the past 5 years, derived from BLS Employment Cost Index for Creative sector wages.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State-level estimates use BLS regional CPI-U data and OEWS metropolitan area wage surveys, normalized to the national median of $57,000.
Authoritative US data sources for Interior Designer compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Interior Designer job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections — 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index — quarterly compensation trend data for Creative
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Interior Designer salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Space Planning, AutoCAD, Color Theory), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS data current as of latest OEWS annual release
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