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Interior decorator vs project designer

The differences between interior decorators and project designers 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 a project designer. Additionally, a project designer has an average salary of $64,943, 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 a project designer are revit, sketch, and design concepts.

Interior decorator vs project designer overview

Interior DecoratorProject Designer
Yearly salary$47,169$64,943
Hourly rate$22.68$31.22
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs11,19460,364
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Interior decorator vs project designer salary

Interior decorators and project designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Interior DecoratorProject Designer
Average salary$47,169$64,943
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $68,000Between $47,000 And $89,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New Mexico
Best paying company-Apple
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between interior decorator and project designer education

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

Interior DecoratorProject Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorInterior DesignArchitecture
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Interior decorator vs project designer demographics

Here are the differences between interior decorators' and project designers' demographics:

Interior DecoratorProject Designer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 17.1% Female, 82.9%Male, 66.5% Female, 33.5%
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 project designer 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.

Project designer example responsibilities.

  • Lead efforts to redesign and convert existing self-pace and instructor-le course materials into eLearning and web-base formats.
  • Provide 2D AutoCAD and 3D Sketchup drawings for client presentations.
  • Implement AIA layering standards and create file management standards for the office.
  • Calculate size of ductwork, hydronic piping, plumbing, and gas piping.
  • Time management, procedure, and field sketch expertise, must be absolute, and perfect.
  • Prepare and deliver construction documents using Revit and AutoCAD for each project on time and within budget.
  • Show more

Interior decorator vs project designer skills

Common interior decorator skills
  • Customer Service, 23%
  • In-Home, 11%
  • Space Planning, 8%
  • Custom Furniture, 8%
  • Trade Shows, 5%
  • Design Projects, 4%
Common project designer skills
  • Revit, 17%
  • Sketch, 8%
  • Design Concepts, 5%
  • Auto CAD, 5%
  • SketchUp, 5%
  • Design Development, 4%

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