Interior Designer Salaries

Interior Designer Job Description

Interior designers incorporate various disciplines of knowledge to enhance the aesthetics, functionality, and safety of interior spaces. Focus is on the collaboration of different textures, colors, space, lighting, and furniture to meet the needs of the occupants. Interior designers plan the interiors of nearly every kind of building, from private residences, to commercial offices, to specialized locations like hospitals, airport terminals, and shopping malls. While they traditionally focused on decorating, many are now becoming involved with architectural detailing.

Interior Designer Salary Statistics

Research conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2010 revealed a mean annual wage of $52,100 for interior designers. The lowest ten percent of wages averaged $26,380 annually, while the middle 50 percent of earners made an average of $46,280 annually. The highest ten percent of interior designers had an average salary of $84,900.

 

Interior Designer Salaries by State

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District of Columbia was the highest payer in May 2010, with an annual mean wage of $73,130. Utah, New York, Nevada, and Rhode Island were the states rounding out the top five payers, each offering an annual mean wage exceeding $61,500. New Hampshire, Nebraska, Indiana, and North Dakota were among the lowest paying states, providing an annual mean wage of between $29,150 and $39,370.

The specialized design services industry employed 15,810 of the 40,120 interior designers in May 2010. This made it the highest employing industry in this field. Other top industries were furniture stores, residential building construction, building supplies and material dealers, and engineering, architecture, and related services companies.

Interior Designer Job Outlook

This career field is expected to increase 19 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is faster than average. However, there should be keen competition for interior design jobs. Individual designers possessing experience with computer-aided design software as well as engineering and architecture fundamentals are preferred by employers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that as of May 2010, California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois had the highest employment levels of interior designers.

Interior Designer Education & Training

In general, post-secondary education is required, even for entry-level positions. An O*Net occupational survey revealed that 22 percent of interior designer respondents held an associate’s degree and 78 percent held a bachelor’s degree. Universities, colleges, and professional design schools offer programs that take between two and four years to complete. Approximately 300 postsecondary institutions have art and design programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation accredits bachelor and master degree level interior design programs, of which there were more than 150 in 2008.

Interior design programs include courses in drawing, CAD, spatial planning, perspective, ergonomics, architecture, furniture design, and more. Individuals who graduate from two or three-year programs receive a certificate or an associate’s degree and usually serve as assistants. Those with a bachelor’s degree often qualify for an apprenticeship program. This one to three-year period allows them to gain experience under the tutelage of an experienced designer before they begin working individually.

Several states provide registration or licensing to interior designers. The licensing examination is administered by the National Council for Interior Design qualification. Applicants are required to have six years of combined interior design experience and education, two years of which must be comprised of postsecondary education. After passing the exam, individuals are permitted to use the title Licensed, Registered, or Certified Interior Designer, depending on the licensure state. Continuing education requirements often apply to this licensure. Optional certifications are available in areas like residential bath and kitchen design.

Related Occupations

There are several other occupations that involve arranging or designing objects to enhance their function and appearance. Floral designers cut dried, silk, or live flowers and greenery and arrange these into displays of different shapes and sizes. Landscape architects design residential areas, gardens, playgrounds, public parks, shopping centers, and other areas to make them functional and in harmony with the natural environment. Fashion designers create clothing and accessories for consumers. Commercial and industrial designers make products for the public by combining their knowledge of engineering, business, and art.