Wages for Interior Designers

Wages for interior designers will vary significantly depending on the designer’s qualifications, experience and credentials, the type of employer, and the location of the job. An experienced designer in a large city can expect to earn more than a recent graduate working in a smaller city. An increasing demand for interior designers will result in higher wages for qualified professionals.

Median Wages for Interior Designers

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for interior designers, as of May 2008, was $44,950.


• The Bureau also reports that the middle 50 percent of designers earned between $34,620 and $61,880; 10 percent earned less than $27,230, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned over $82,750.

Wages Based on Type of Employer

• Interior designers employed in architectural and engineering firms earned an average salary of $49,290.


• Those employed in specialized design services earned an average of $45,470.


• Designers who worked for furniture stores earned an average of $41,080.


• Those who worked for building material suppliers earned an average of $40,040.


• Partners in design firms could expect to earn an annual salary between $75,000 and $100,000.

Wages Based on Experience

• Salary surveys indicate that designers with zero to two years of experience earned $30,719 to $43,831.


• Those with two to four years of experience earned $37,043 to $49,963.


• Designers with four to six years of experience earned $42,146 to $59,109.


• Designers with six to eight years of experience earned $49,107 to $72,154.


• Designers with eight or more years of experience earned $57,184 to $86,066.

Possibilities of Earning Higher Wages

• Interior designers in metropolitan areas will earn higher wages based on the cost of living for these larger cities.


• Senior designers and managers will earn more due to increased responsibilities.


• A higher education level will mean higher wages.


• Self-employed interior designers with a good client base may earn more because they keep more of the profits.