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The differences between interior design interns and design specialists 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 internship and a design specialist. Additionally, a design specialist has an average salary of $56,917, which is higher than the $45,975 average annual salary of an interior design internship.
The top three skills for an interior design internship include revit, sketch and auto cad. The most important skills for a design specialist are customer service, sketch, and CAD.
| Interior Design Internship | Design Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $45,975 | $56,917 |
| Hourly rate | $22.10 | $27.36 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 88,151 | 68,347 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
When it comes to interior design internship, interns are typically responsible for performing support tasks and gaining industry insights while under the supervision of managers or senior designers. They often participate in designing spaces, responding to clients' calls and correspondence, answering inquiries, and preparing conceptual presentations for clients. They may also run errands and perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports and documentation, create proposals, and even schedule appointments. Moreover, as an intern, it is essential to understand and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
A design specialist is responsible for creating engaging visual images and digital content to improve customers' brand awareness about the organization's products and services. Design specialists may also work for media production, creating graphic animations for viewers depending on production requirements and media demands. A design specialist must have excellent knowledge of utilizing various software tools and programs, coordinating with the whole design team on adjusting plans, improving layouts according to budget limitations, and submitting deliverables within the set deadlines.
Interior design interns and design specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interior Design Internship | Design Specialist | |
| Average salary | $45,975 | $56,917 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $63,000 | Between $35,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | LEO A DALY | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Construction | - |
There are a few differences between an interior design internship and a design specialist in terms of educational background:
| Interior Design Internship | Design Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | Cornell University |
Here are the differences between interior design interns' and design specialists' demographics:
| Interior Design Internship | Design Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1% | Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9% |
| 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% |