How to hire a design consultant

How to hire a design consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step design consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a design consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new design consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a design consultant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a design consultant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a design consultant to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a design consultant that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of design consultants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Design Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   Design Consultant	Interior designers make interior spaces functional, safe, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items, such as colors, lighting, and materials. They read blueprints and must be aware of building codes and inspection regulations, as well as universal accessibility standards.	$24-57
   Kitchen And Bath Designer	As the name entails, kitchen and bath designers design kitchens and bathrooms using their interior design skills and knowledge of space, colors, lighting, and textures. They typically begin working on their projects by doing a tour and talking to clients to better understand their requirements... Show more	$15-38
   Visual Merchandiser	A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Product Knowledge
   • Java
   • Design Process
   • Design Services
   • Design Solutions
   • Leveraged
   • Project Management
   • Math
   • PowerPoint
   • Sketch
   • Lead Generation
   • Dependability
   • Retail Sales
   • CAD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a CMS website and WordPress blog.
   • Lead 5 country assessment of SME constraints and opportunities in order to program $2 million of donor funds.
   • Manage team of design, engineering, DBA, and QA members to implement wine club subscription e-commerce services.
   • Develop construction drawings using AutoCAD; coordinate bid process and vendor selection; and manage construction process through final punch list.
   • Manage the integration of multiple demonstration rooms into a comprehensive solution displaying design possibilities, implementation techniques, and corporate capabilities.
   • Specialize in RF telemetry circuits.

   More design consultant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your design consultant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A design consultant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, design consultants' average salary in mississippi is 53% less than in pennsylvania.
   • Seniority. Entry-level design consultants earn 58% less than senior-level design consultants.
   • Certifications. A design consultant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a design consultant's salary.

   Average design consultant salary

   $77,803yearly

   $37.41 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level design consultant salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average design consultant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,293	$50
   2	Pennsylvania	$100,575	$48
   3	District of Columbia	$96,636	$46
   4	Washington	$94,880	$46
   5	Massachusetts	$90,480	$44
   6	Rhode Island	$89,203	$43
   7	New Jersey	$89,032	$43
   8	Georgia	$86,572	$42
   9	Ohio	$85,285	$41
   10	New York	$84,761	$41
   11	Illinois	$83,193	$40
   12	Delaware	$80,759	$39
   13	North Carolina	$80,711	$39
   14	Texas	$77,682	$37
   15	Kansas	$75,372	$36
   16	Connecticut	$70,069	$34
   17	Utah	$66,929	$32
   18	Virginia	$65,590	$32
   19	Arizona	$64,677	$31
   20	Colorado	$61,868	$30

   Average design consultant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Slalom	$128,563	$61.81	75
   2	SAP	$124,230	$59.73	3
   3	RH	$120,180	$57.78	117
   4	Ernst & Young	$119,216	$57.32	4
   5	Synopsys	$118,656	$57.05	4
   6	State Street	$115,978	$55.76
   7	Dell	$113,783	$54.70
   8	Guild Education	$111,020	$53.38
   9	Thomson Reuters	$109,049	$52.43	1
   10	Guidehouse	$105,632	$50.78	31
   11	Accenture	$104,800	$50.38	355
   12	Philips Medical Systems	$104,742	$50.36
   13	Aditi Consulting	$104,425	$50.20
   14	American Family Insurance	$104,361	$50.17
   15	Tata Technologies	$104,306	$50.15	1
   16	RGP	$102,723	$49.39	2
   17	West Monroe	$102,700	$49.38	4
   18	Salt River Project	$102,155	$49.11
   19	Andersen	$102,008	$49.04	4
   20	Deloitte	$99,887	$48.02	230

4. Writing a design consultant job description

   A good design consultant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a design consultant job description:

   Design consultant job description example

   Bearing is at the forefront of bringing AI to the maritime shipping industry. This is a trillion dollar industry that moves 90% of the goods we interact with on a daily basis, but has traditionally lagged far behind other industries in adopting new technologies. At Bearing, we're changing that. We're building an AI-driven platform that helps shipping companies dramatically streamline their operations and tackle their biggest pain points. We've already built our first product and have some of the world's biggest shippers as our customers. Our team is made up of highly experienced AI engineers and tech industry veterans and we're backed by the AI Fund and shipping industry investors.
   
   We are currently looking for an exceptionally talented UI/UX Designer with good animation, UI and UX skills, who can partner up with out Product Design team to provide good clean designs that “WOW” our customers. You should count with 30-40 hours availability per week.
   
   What You Must Bring:Great UI, UX and animation skills.Knowledge of wireframe tools Up-to-date knowledge of design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and FigmaTeam spirit; strong communication skills to collaborate with Product Managers, Designers and engineers.Good time-management skills Able to work independently
   
   Nice if you have:Experience working with startups.BSc in Design, Computer Science or relevant fields.
   
   At Bearing, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. AI Fund believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Selection for employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
   
   At Bearing, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Bearing believes that diversity and inclusion among our employees is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Selection for employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
   You must already have, or be able to obtain, authorization to work in the country you will work from.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find design consultants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your design consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit design consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with design consultant candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new design consultant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the design consultant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new design consultant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a design consultant?