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Interior decorator vs interior design director

The differences between interior decorators and interior design directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an interior decorator and an interior design director. Additionally, an interior design director has an average salary of $88,458, which is higher than the $47,169 average annual salary of an interior decorator.

The top three skills for an interior decorator include customer service, in-home and space planning. The most important skills for an interior design director are design concepts, photoshop, and business development.

Interior decorator vs interior design director overview

Interior DecoratorInterior Design Director
Yearly salary$47,169$88,458
Hourly rate$22.68$42.53
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs11,19443,103
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Interior decorator vs interior design director salary

Interior decorators and interior design directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Interior DecoratorInterior Design Director
Average salary$47,169$88,458
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $68,000Between $54,000 And $143,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between interior decorator and interior design director education

There are a few differences between an interior decorator and an interior design director in terms of educational background:

Interior DecoratorInterior Design Director
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorInterior DesignInterior Design
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Interior decorator vs interior design director demographics

Here are the differences between interior decorators' and interior design directors' demographics:

Interior DecoratorInterior Design Director
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 17.1% Female, 82.9%Male, 30.2% Female, 69.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage23%23%

Differences between interior decorator and interior design director duties and responsibilities

Interior decorator example responsibilities.

  • Manage Pinterest, Facebook, and Houzz profiles by responding to questions and updating photos.
  • Conduct in-home design and custom window treatment consultations and sales.
  • Demonstrate skillful communication and negotiation skills.
  • Design, modele and render graphically intensive exteriors and interior environments and animations utilizing the latest in visualization technology.
  • Design, modele and render graphically intensive exteriors and interior environments and animations utilizing the latest in visualization technology.

Interior design director example responsibilities.

  • Manage the schematic phase and generate all the necessary documents to be submit to the structural and MEP consultants.
  • Work include a broad portfolio of corporate, healthcare, institutional and educational projects.
  • Establish architecture process allowing architecture evolution through contributions
  • Design and draft compression and transfer rubber molds and steel rule dies in SolidWorks.
  • Establish innovative and collaborative mechanical designs and component parts of equipment while using AutoCAD and SolidWorks simultaneously.
  • Establish architecture process allowing architecture evolution through contributions

Interior decorator vs interior design director skills

Common interior decorator skills
  • Customer Service, 23%
  • In-Home, 11%
  • Space Planning, 8%
  • Custom Furniture, 8%
  • Trade Shows, 5%
  • Design Projects, 4%
Common interior design director skills
  • Design Concepts, 20%
  • Photoshop, 17%
  • Business Development, 10%
  • Design Process, 9%
  • Leed, 8%
  • Space Planning, 7%

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