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The differences between interior design consultants and contract designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an interior design consultant, becoming a contract designer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an interior design consultant has an average salary of $61,447, which is higher than the $58,458 average annual salary of a contract designer.
The top three skills for an interior design consultant include customer service, real estate and window coverings. The most important skills for a contract designer are assembly drawings, sketch, and web banners.
| Interior Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,447 | $58,458 |
| Hourly rate | $29.54 | $28.10 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 48,894 | 51,980 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An interior design consultant is responsible for designing the interior space of a client's property according to their specifications and budget requirements. Interior design consultants draft their initial layouts, including the cost forecasting and resources for the operations, to determine the client's approval or revise plans as necessary. They also review the current commercial trends to provide recommendations for their clients. An interior design consultant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as well as expertise in utilizing software tools and applications for digital designs.
The primary duty of a Contract Designer is to deliver creative strategies and design concepts that meet the objectives of the company's project. They work with members of the sales team and/or marketing designers.
Interior design consultants and contract designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interior Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Average salary | $61,447 | $58,458 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $88,000 | Between $39,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | - |
| Best paying company | RH | - |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between an interior design consultant and a contract designer in terms of educational background:
| Interior Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Georgia Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between interior design consultants' and contract designers' demographics:
| Interior Design Consultant | Contract Designer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9% | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 10.4% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 5% |