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Best states for an interior designer
Quoted expert
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for interior designers in the United States. Interior designer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for interior designers.In order to help you decide which state is the best for interior designers, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for interior designer jobs.
Oregon is the best state for jobs for interior designers, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in Oregon is $61,159, while the median pay in Mississippi is $32,928.We found that the South is best for interior designers, and the West is the worst. Sacramento, CA is the best city in the country for interior designer jobs, where as Oregon is the best state in the country.
10 best states for interior designers in 2025
1. Oregon
Total interior designer jobs: 493 Average annual salary: $61,159 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
2. Washington
Total interior designer jobs: 810 Average annual salary: $61,623 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
3. Idaho
Total interior designer jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $64,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
4. Colorado
Total interior designer jobs: 468 Average annual salary: $59,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
5. North Dakota
Total interior designer jobs: 54 Average annual salary: $67,385 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
6. Utah
Total interior designer jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $53,940 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
7. California
Total interior designer jobs: 3,322 Average annual salary: $60,077 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
8. New York
Total interior designer jobs: 1,424 Average annual salary: $57,742 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
9. New Mexico
Total interior designer jobs: 108 Average annual salary: $63,750 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Location Quotient: 0.71
10. District of Columbia
Total interior designer jobs: 206 Average annual salary: $57,836 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.58
Interior designer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an interior designer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an interior designer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $61,159 | $38,000 | 4,142,776 | 493 |
| 2 | Washington | $61,623 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 810 |
| 3 | Idaho | $64,144 | $39,000 | 1,716,943 | 109 |
| 4 | Colorado | $59,611 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 468 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $67,385 | $43,000 | 755,393 | 54 |
| 6 | Utah | $53,940 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 287 |
| 7 | California | $60,077 | $37,000 | 39,536,653 | 3,322 |
| 8 | New York | $57,742 | $36,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,424 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $63,750 | $41,000 | 2,088,070 | 108 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $57,836 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 206 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $55,197 | $34,000 | 6,859,819 | 840 |
| 12 | Maine | $52,992 | $33,000 | 1,335,907 | 119 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $52,297 | $33,000 | 1,342,795 | 156 |
| 14 | Iowa | $56,761 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 200 |
| 15 | Nevada | $54,601 | $34,000 | 2,998,039 | 121 |
| 16 | Vermont | $53,407 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 59 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $57,205 | $38,000 | 3,004,279 | 128 |
| 18 | Michigan | $50,936 | $32,000 | 9,962,311 | 681 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $53,789 | $33,000 | 3,588,184 | 286 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $51,279 | $33,000 | 5,795,483 | 395 |
| 21 | Georgia | $49,953 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 947 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $51,608 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 501 |
| 23 | Arizona | $52,287 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 371 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $50,070 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 49 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $50,681 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 780 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,480 | $31,000 | 11,658,609 | 646 |
| 27 | Texas | $49,516 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,470 |
| 28 | Montana | $49,946 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 72 |
| 29 | Delaware | $48,914 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 84 |
| 30 | Maryland | $49,463 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 468 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $49,968 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 516 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $48,895 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 70 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $45,078 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 111 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $47,640 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 177 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $44,212 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 670 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,124 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 318 |
| 37 | Illinois | $43,088 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 906 |
| 38 | Alaska | $44,589 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 47 |
| 39 | Kansas | $43,757 | $29,000 | 2,913,123 | 177 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $43,007 | $33,000 | 1,427,538 | 49 |
| 41 | Virginia | $41,604 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 770 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,090 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 210 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $43,477 | $28,000 | 1,920,076 | 114 |
| 44 | Missouri | $42,922 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 356 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $42,275 | $27,000 | 869,666 | 56 |
| 46 | Florida | $41,694 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 997 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,589 | $29,000 | 4,684,333 | 150 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $40,028 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 228 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,158 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 157 |
| 50 | Indiana | $36,776 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 326 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,928 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 93 |
Highest paying states for interior designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Interior Designer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $61,159 |
| 2 | Washington | $61,623 |
| 3 | Idaho | $64,144 |
| 4 | Colorado | $59,611 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $67,385 |
| 6 | Utah | $53,940 |
| 7 | California | $60,077 |
| 8 | New York | $57,742 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $63,750 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $57,836 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $55,197 |
| 12 | Maine | $52,992 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $52,297 |
| 14 | Iowa | $56,761 |
| 15 | Nevada | $54,601 |
| 16 | Vermont | $53,407 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $57,205 |
| 18 | Michigan | $50,936 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $53,789 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $51,279 |
| 21 | Georgia | $49,953 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $51,608 |
| 23 | Arizona | $52,287 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $50,070 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $50,681 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,480 |
| 27 | Texas | $49,516 |
| 28 | Montana | $49,946 |
| 29 | Delaware | $48,914 |
| 30 | Maryland | $49,463 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $49,968 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $48,895 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $45,078 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $47,640 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $44,212 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,124 |
| 37 | Illinois | $43,088 |
| 38 | Alaska | $44,589 |
| 39 | Kansas | $43,757 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $43,007 |
| 41 | Virginia | $41,604 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,090 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $43,477 |
| 44 | Missouri | $42,922 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $42,275 |
| 46 | Florida | $41,694 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,589 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $40,028 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,158 |
| 50 | Indiana | $36,776 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,928 |
Expert opinions on the best states for interior designers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for interior designers to find work opportunities?
Linda Manikowske Ph.D.
Professor, North Dakota State University
Graduates with a degree in Apparel, Retail Merchandising, and Design find work in all locations. Some find jobs in major cities working for large retail corporations while others start their own business in a small community or rural area. There are many opportunities in this diverse industry.
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Updated January 8, 2025