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The differences between interior design consultants and home 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 design consultant and a home designer. Additionally, a home designer has an average salary of $66,541, which is higher than the $61,447 average annual salary of an interior design consultant.
The top three skills for an interior design consultant include customer service, real estate and window coverings. The most important skills for a home designer are in-home, customer service, and design solutions.
| Interior Design Consultant | Home Designer | |
| Yearly salary | $61,447 | $66,541 |
| Hourly rate | $29.54 | $31.99 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 48,894 | 86,223 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A home designer is responsible for executing creative designs for house furnishing according to clients' requirements and specifications. Home designers assess the clients' best interests to make decisions about layouts and structure. They also select the best materials and equipment that go along with the house's designs, customizing decors, and emphasize the elements of the residential space. A home designer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in creating cost and expenses reports for the client's preference.
Interior design consultants and home designers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interior Design Consultant | Home Designer | |
| Average salary | $61,447 | $66,541 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $88,000 | Between $38,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | Alameda, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Mexico | Oregon |
| Best paying company | RH | Best Buy |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Retail |
There are a few differences between an interior design consultant and a home designer in terms of educational background:
| Interior Design Consultant | Home Designer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Interior Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between interior design consultants' and home designers' demographics:
| Interior Design Consultant | Home Designer | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.1% Female, 80.9% | Male, 53.6% Female, 46.4% |
| 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, 1.5% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 4.6% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 23% |