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Interior decorator vs residential designer

The differences between interior decorators and residential 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 residential designer. Additionally, a residential designer has an average salary of $58,162, 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 residential designer are CAD, construction drawings, and design services.

Interior decorator vs residential designer overview

Interior DecoratorResidential Designer
Yearly salary$47,169$58,162
Hourly rate$22.68$27.96
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs11,19453,507
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

Interior decorator vs residential designer salary

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

Interior DecoratorResidential Designer
Average salary$47,169$58,162
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $68,000Between $37,000 And $90,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between interior decorator and residential designer education

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

Interior DecoratorResidential Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorInterior DesignArchitecture
Most common collegeCornell UniversityCornell University

Interior decorator vs residential designer demographics

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

Interior DecoratorResidential Designer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 17.1% Female, 82.9%Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6%
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 residential 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.

Residential designer example responsibilities.

  • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
  • Modify AutoCAD construction documents and create new Revit construction documents of residential designs for a large variety of clients.
  • Develop original concepts from thumbnail sketch to finish product.
  • Design, modele and render graphically intensive exteriors and interior environments and animations utilizing the latest in visualization technology.
  • Monitor orders using the retail point of sale (POS) system.

Interior decorator vs residential 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 residential designer skills
  • CAD, 22%
  • Construction Drawings, 22%
  • Design Services, 12%
  • Revit, 11%
  • Sketch, 7%
  • Design Concepts, 4%

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