How much does a interior designer make?
The median interior designer in the United States earns $63,490 per year, about $30.52 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all interior designers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 27-1025.
Interior designer salary range
Pay for interior designers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $38,480 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $106,090. The average (mean) wage of $71,430 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,480 | $18.50 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $49,770 | $23.93 | |
| Median (50th) | $63,490 | $30.52 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $80,830 | $38.86 | |
| 90th percentile | $106,090 | $51.01 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for interior designers (SOC 27-1025), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Interior designer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Interior designers earn the most in Washington at $79,490 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $44,120. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $79,490 | 1,440 |
| District of Columbia | $79,060 | 530 |
| California | $77,360 | 8,360 |
| Massachusetts | $77,190 | 1,540 |
| Wyoming | $75,120 | 80 |
| New York | $73,630 | 5,590 |
| Colorado | $72,740 | 2,800 |
| Maryland | $70,810 | 1,090 |
| Nevada | $68,620 | 600 |
| New Jersey | $67,290 | 1,510 |
| Minnesota | $67,070 | 1,330 |
| Virginia | $66,450 | 1,550 |
| Illinois | $66,300 | 2,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,680 | 2,140 |
| Oregon | $64,250 | 1,030 |
| Arizona | $63,950 | 1,550 |
| Arkansas | $63,670 | 760 |
| Michigan | $62,760 | 1,670 |
| South Dakota | $62,140 | 160 |
| Vermont | $62,130 | 90 |
| Georgia | $61,810 | 2,660 |
| Texas | $61,620 | 5,190 |
| Wisconsin | $61,360 | 1,170 |
| Rhode Island | $61,080 | 400 |
| New Hampshire | $60,650 | 310 |
| Hawaii | $60,600 | 230 |
| Indiana | $60,590 | 970 |
| Florida | $60,200 | 7,090 |
| Utah | $60,170 | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $59,580 | 330 |
| Connecticut | $59,490 | 850 |
| South Carolina | $59,450 | 990 |
| Missouri | $58,830 | 960 |
| Tennessee | $58,730 | 1,290 |
| Ohio | $58,720 | 2,280 |
| Nebraska | $58,300 | 500 |
| Iowa | $57,790 | 720 |
| Alabama | $57,290 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $57,150 | 180 |
| North Dakota | $56,640 | 170 |
| Delaware | $55,230 | 180 |
| Maine | $54,720 | 220 |
| Kansas | $54,400 | 430 |
| Montana | $53,230 | 430 |
| North Carolina | $53,180 | 2,360 |
| Oklahoma | $52,240 | 490 |
| New Mexico | $50,400 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $50,220 | 540 |
| West Virginia | $45,090 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $44,120 | N/A |
State median wages for interior designers (SOC 27-1025), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for interior designers
The BLS projects employment of interior designers to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 97,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 99,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 7,700 openings a year for interior designers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an interior designer
The typical entry-level education for interior designers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an interior designer earns
Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $79,490) and the lowest (Mississippi, $44,120) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 69,580 people work as interior designers in the United States. At $63,490 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Interior designer salary FAQ
How much does an interior designer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an interior designer is $30.52. The middle half of interior designers earn between $23.93 and $38.86 per hour.
What is the highest interior designer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of interior designers earn more than $106,090 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an interior designer make a year?
The median annual salary for an interior designer is $63,490. The average (mean) wage of $71,430 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an interior designer a well paid job?
At $63,490 a year, an interior designer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 69,580 people work as interior designers in the United States.
Which state pays interior designers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for interior designers at $79,490 a year. District of Columbia ($79,060) and California ($77,360) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an interior designer a good career?
Employment of interior designers is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 7,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an interior designer?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for interior designers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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