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Job outlook for commercial interior designers in the United States
Commercial interior designer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected commercial interior designer job growth rate is 1% from 2018-2028.
About 800 new jobs for commercial interior designers are projected over the next decade.
Commercial interior designer salaries have increased 15% for commercial interior designers in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,858 commercial interior designers currently employed in the United States.
There are 74,082 active commercial interior designer job openings in the US.
The average commercial interior designer salary is $51,844.
Are commercial interior designer jobs in demand?
Commercial interior designer job and salary trends over time
Commercial interior designer jobs over time
Commercial interior designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,858 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 24,690 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 25,307 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 23,814 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 23,396 | 0.01% |
Average commercial interior designer salary over time
Commercial interior designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,844 | $24.92 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $50,917 | $24.48 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | $48,491 | $23.31 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | $46,792 | $22.50 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | $45,257 | $21.76 | +2.0% |
Commercial interior designer jobs by state
Most common states for commercial interior designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 242 | 35% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,125 | 16% |
| 3 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 602 | 15% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 196 | 15% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,049 | 14% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,363 | 13% |
| 7 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 450 | 13% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 403 | 13% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 137 | 13% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 128 | 13% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,025 | 12% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 667 | 12% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,368 | 11% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,385 | 11% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 629 | 11% |
| 16 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 334 | 11% |
| 17 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 142 | 11% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 81 | 11% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 71 | 11% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 63 | 11% |
Commercial Interior Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of commercial interior designer experts
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Kansas State University
Marywood University
Florida International University
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Albion College
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Montclair State University
AIGA, the professional association for design
Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
SagreraBrazil Design, Inc.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Interior Designer?
Georges Fares: In the coming years, several skills will become increasingly important in interior design. First, sustainability and eco-friendly design will gain significant emphasis. Designers will need to be well-versed in sustainable materials, energy-efficient systems, and green certifications such as LEED and WELL. Knowledge of how to incorporate renewable resources and environmentally responsible practices into projects will be essential. Technology integration will also be highly valued. Proficiency in advanced design software, 3D modeling, and the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will become integral to the design process. These tools will enhance visualization, presentation, and client collaboration, allowing for more immersive and interactive experiences. An awareness of global design trends and cultural sensitivity will be increasingly important as the world becomes more interconnected. Designers will often work on international projects, requiring an understanding of diverse cultural aesthetics, traditions, and preferences. This global perspective will help create spaces that resonate with varied client bases. Adaptability will be crucial in responding to evolving client needs, technological advancements, and market trends. The ability to pivot and innovate in response to new challenges will distinguish successful designers. Moreover, collaboration with diverse teams, including architects, engineers, and contractors, will be essential for seamless project execution. Effective communication and teamwork will ensure that all aspects of a project align and integrate smoothly. Finally, understanding clients' emotional needs and how design can address these will become a key aspect of creating meaningful and impactful spaces. Interior designers will need to consider psychological and emotional factors, designing environments that promote well-being, productivity, and comfort. This client-centered approach will lead to more personalized and effective design solutions.
What Commercial Interior Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Georges Fares: Maximizing salary potential in interior design involves a combination of strategic actions and ongoing professional development. To start, focusing on niche areas within interior design that are currently in high demand, such as sustainable design, healthcare design, or incorporating advanced technology, can significantly enhance your market value. These specialized skills set you apart from competitors and allow you to command higher fees for your expertise. Pursuing additional certifications and advanced degrees can further improve your qualifications and deepen your knowledge in these specialized areas. For example, obtaining LEED certification for sustainable design or a master's degree in healthcare design can make you more attractive to employers looking for specific skill sets. Networking is another critical component of maximizing salary potential. Establishing connections with industry professionals, mentors, and potential employers can lead to job opportunities with competitive salaries. Attending industry conferences, participating in professional organizations, and engaging in online communities are effective ways to build and maintain a robust professional network. A well-organized portfolio is essential in showcasing your best work, demonstrating your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to meet clients' needs, and including case studies that highlight improvements in functionality, sustainability, or user experience. Developing soft skills such as strong communication, negotiation, and leadership is also crucial, as they help articulate your design vision, secure better project terms and salaries, and position you for higher-compensation managerial roles. Overall, these strategies can help new graduates navigate the early stages of their careers and position themselves for financial and professional growth in the interior design field. By continuously improving your skills, expanding your network, and showcasing your work effectively, you can enhance your professional reputation and salary prospects.
What will help Commercial Interior Designers increase their earning potential?
Georges Fares: Starting a career in interior design can be both exciting and challenging. My advice is to stay curious and keep learning because the field of interior design is ever-evolving. Staying updated with the latest trends, materials, and technologies is crucial. Networking actively is also essential. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with peers and mentors, as these connections can open doors to opportunities and collaborations. Seek diverse experiences by gaining exposure to different types of projects and environments, whether residential, commercial, or hospitality. This will make you a more versatile designer. Lastly, stay resilient. The design field can be competitive and demanding, but by continuously honing your skills and maintaining a positive attitude, you can navigate through challenges successfully.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Interior Designer?
Cameron John M.F.A.: Each day in design may offer something different - time is often balanced between multiple projects at different stages of development. Design projects, depending on scale, often take anywhere from 6 months to several years from beginning to end. Day to day tasks may include meeting with a client, meeting with other professionals like architects and engineers, developing plans and 3D models of the design, organizing and selecting materials, coordinating project details, making changes and revisions, meeting with product representatives, and much more.
What Commercial Interior Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cameron John M.F.A.: Interior Architecture and Design offers an opportunity to help clients - real people - realize their vision. Whether it is a single-family home, a corporate office, or a hospital - the spaces designed are real. These spaces have tangible effect on the well-being, health, and happiness of others. The challenges of any field of design - architecture or otherwise - are that it is often a pursuit of passion. Design work often involves late nights and long hours to reach submittal deadlines and manage the complexities of any project. The volume of information you need to coordinate and manage requires a high level of organization and focus. Attention to detail is incredibly important. Design work is not as highly compensated as other professional pursuits for the amount of expertise and work that goes into realizing a project.
What will help Commercial Interior Designers increase their earning potential?
Cameron John M.F.A.: People spend 90% of their time inside. Interior Architecture and Design is a growing profession as more and more people take interest in the design of their spaces. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this impact as people were forced to occupy their spaces and physically recognize how their space impacts their health - both mentally and physically. Additionally, current economic pressures have made it more appealing for companies to renovate their current space rather than build an entirely new structure.
Vibhavari Jani
Associate ProfessorKansas State University
Interior Architecture and Industrial Design
What hard/technical skills are most important for Commercial Interior Designers?
Vibhavari Jani: Ability to master various software: Revit, Rhyno, Sketchup, 3D rendering software (Enscape and Lunion), BIM.
Sue Jenkins
Associate ProfessorMarywood University
Art Department
What experience really stands out on Commercial Interior Designer resumes?
Sue Jenkins: Before saying what stands out most, there's one thing to avoid; those skill self-assessment bar graphs that take up too much real estate and don't provide the reader with valid, useful data. A better solution is to list skills and proficiency in years, such as Adobe Photoshop, three years.
Now, what stands out most on a resume is evidence of creative engagement beyond the classroom. Has the student been a member of any clubs? Won any awards? Have you participated in any solo or group exhibitions and completed any internships, pro bono, or freelance work? Have you worked on any side projects? Run an Etsy, Society6, or RedBubble account? Sold any commissioned work? Definitely include all these types of activities along with any tangible outcomes and achievements, like "Designed a series of digital documents that downsized paper waste and reduced the client's carbon footprint by 13%." Results-oriented statements provide a better sense of the designer's understanding of their role and their value to an organization.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Commercial Interior Designer job market given the pandemic?
Katie Rothfield: The post-COVID-19 job market for interior architecture/design majors largely mirrors what we are seeing in each respective industry: while some trades, such as hospitality and cruise ship, are seeing a downturn or outright freeze in work, other sectors, such as law, were unaffected by the pandemic and are still operating and hiring at normal speed. Likewise, just as there is a great demand for healthcare workers, demand is also high for interior designers with strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of innovative sustainable design practices, building systems, technology, and psychology/theory who can address issues related to indoor air quality, viral transmission on surfaces, and social distancing.
In addition, corporations will need interior designers to study and respond to new remote and in-person work patterns and rethink the future design of the office, and with so many people spending countless hours at home, there is increased interest and demand in the residential design market.
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Interior Designer?
Abby Guido: We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.
Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Commercial Interior Designer job market given the pandemic?
Lisa TenHulzen: This is a big question. Because of the financial strains the pandemic has placed on the entertainment industry, I suspect we will see trends towards smaller cast shows as well as simpler productions, overall. I believe this will help to ease some of the financial burdens a large cast and crew can place on a theatre, as well as help ease the audience back into a sense of security. Depending on the location of the production, an audience might not feel comfortable attending a large-scale performance. Smaller shows lend themselves better to smaller audiences. All of this to say, I believe theatre jobs will be in short supply for quite some time. At least until theatres are able to make up some of the financial losses. This means hiring will be limited to core positions of production such as directors, stage managers, technical directors, designers, and only a few technicians. For smaller theatres, we will most likely see theatre artists taking on multiple jobs within the production.
What skills stand out on Commercial Interior Designer resumes?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.: The retail industry is robust and requires many skills. Content and industry-related knowledge are essential, including comfort with computer applications like Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Excel. Beyond knowledge of the industry, job candidates need excellent communication skills in written and oral forms. It's also highly recommended that job candidates have work experience in their area of interest, which could include an internship, job shadow, or part-time position.
Barbara Anderson
Professor and HeadKansas State University
Department of Interior Design and Fashion Studies
What type of skills will young Commercial Interior Designers need?
Barbara Anderson: Technology in buildings and using technology to design buildings and communicate with teams and clients will be more critical than ever.
What experience really stands out on Commercial Interior Designer resumes?
Barbara Anderson: The experiences individuals can describe on a resume are meaningful, but soft skills are most impressive in a new hire. My top two soft skills areas are communication (listening, speaking, writing, digital and analog visualization) and being productive in a team (cooperation, constructive conflict, continual personal improvement, taking responsibility, anticipating others' needs).
Barbara Anderson
Professor and HeadKansas State University
Department of Interior Design and Fashion Studies
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Commercial Interior Designers to find work opportunities?
Barbara Anderson: Our graduates gain employment across the United States with ease. I believe some use-type sectors will see a slight decline in demand, including hospitality and retail design. However, there will be plenty of professional opportunities to reimagine the post-pandemic use of existing facilities.
How do you envision technology impacting Commercial Interior Designers in the next 5 years?
Barbara Anderson: The integration of technology in buildings and the use of technology to design and communication design to clients and users will continue to accelerate in the next five years. I expect the technology integrated into buildings to focus on communications, health and well-being, and Net Zero and water efficiency with the goal of resilience/sustainability.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Commercial Interior Designers to find work opportunities?
Lauren Carr: Technology and a biblical pandemic have changed the perspective of studios, who are now working remotely. Perhaps industry people won't have to up and move their lives to other parts of the country to work on a show.
How do you envision technology impacting Commercial Interior Designers in the next 5 years?
Bennie F. Johnson: We will likely see the Bureau of Labor Statistics trends cited in the Design Futures research to continue to intensify. "Traditional" design jobs had already been decreasing pre-pandemic, due to technological change, while design jobs in technology fields have been growing rapidly. So if anything, it will be designers who will be making a strong impact on technology. This doesn't necessarily mean that all designers will need to code. It does mean that the need for designers to understand complex systems, business models, and the social/cultural/ethical implications of their designs.
While there are tremendous challenges ahead, the design community has a unique opportunity to show leadership, to do good, and to inspire. Unprecedented times can lead us in new and unexpected directions that allow relationships to be strengthened and provide opportunities for expanding networks and connecting in exciting ways with family, friends, and colleagues. The ability to adapt is what is needed in these times.
What type of skills will young Commercial Interior Designers need?
Bennie F. Johnson: Our Design Futures research from 2018 covered this topic in some detail. Some highlights of needed skills include an understanding of business models, complex systems, and data. One of the seven Design Futures trends is "Bridging Physical and Digital Experiences," which has become even more important in a COVID world. Of course, mastering craft and specific tools remain important, especially for entry-level work, but so is a general ability to "learn how to learn," as the rate of technical change (and obsolescence) is only getting faster.
In May of 2020, AIGA conducted an industry pulse check survey around the impact of COVID-19 on the design community and found, not surprisingly, that adaptability skills continue to be the most critical for design professionals, and collaboration made the list of top five skills for the first time.
Carmita Sanchez-Fong
Professor and ChairpersonFashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
Interior Design Department
How do you envision technology impacting Commercial Interior Designers in the next 5 years?
Carmita Sanchez-Fong: Interior design is a lifestyle. Our industry's challenge is going to be humanizing technology, making it seamless, part of the story and the experience. From digital connectivity to greater adoption of automation, increased public health awareness, cashless behaviors, the proliferation of on-demand apps, facial and speech recognition, touchless technology, grab-and-do behaviors, memorable virtual experiences, immersive more personal environments, etc. all will affect our industry, in one way or another. Technology is the tool that is making the new ordinary possible.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Commercial Interior Designers to find work opportunities?
Carmita Sanchez-Fong: Wherever there are people, there is a need for interior design innovation. Our students are all over the United States and abroad. Keep in mind that each state and city has a vastly different population size, infrastructure, income levels, behaviors, trends, and even level of sophistication. Do your research. Do not pick the place that pays you the most. Pick a location outside of your comfort zone that will challenge your skills and support your growth as a person and designer.
How do you envision technology impacting Commercial Interior Designers in the next 5 years?
George Brazil: Technology is only going to make what we do a lot easier and more streamlined. The fact that we learned we can work remotely, still be efficient if we plan it properly, and still service our clients has made our job more efficient.
Of course there are all the fancy rendering software programs out there that help us convey our intent and tell a story to our client. Most design programs teach some of these programs, yet it is more important now that graduates have a strong knowledge of both 2D and 3D programs as well as rendering solutions.