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The differences between interior designers and civil engineers 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 designer, becoming a civil engineer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a civil engineer has an average salary of $70,950, which is higher than the $52,482 average annual salary of an interior designer.
The top three skills for an interior designer include revit, space planning and sketch. The most important skills for a civil engineer are civil 3d, engineering design, and cost estimates.
| Interior Designer | Civil Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $52,482 | $70,950 |
| Hourly rate | $25.23 | $34.11 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 48,020 | 26,803 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An interior designer helps people decorate their rooms and spaces, creating the most functional and beautiful area as possible. They sit with clients to plan desired goals, visualize the space's functions, and sketch the design plan. Then, they pick and order materials and furnishings needed for the project. Additionally, they create a project timeline, estimate cost, and supervise the construction and installation. They follow-up with clients to guarantee their satisfaction once the project is completed. Interior designers should have an understanding of building and construction as well as public safety and security. They must be flexible in their time since they work to meet client needs.
A civil engineer designs and supervises the construction of large-scale public works projects such as buildings, roads, tunnels, highways, airports, bridges, dams, and other substantial infrastructure. Most civil engineers work in the private industry, but some work for a government organization. Their output is almost everywhere. Many of them specialize in a specific project or practice a target profession such as in transportation, structural engineering, or geotechnical engineering. They oftentimes work at project sites, as they monitor the ongoing construction.
Interior designers and civil engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interior Designer | Civil Engineer | |
| Average salary | $52,482 | $70,950 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $51,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | California |
| Best paying company | German International School New York | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Construction |
There are a few differences between an interior designer and a civil engineer in terms of educational background:
| Interior Designer | Civil Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Civil Engineering |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between interior designers' and civil engineers' demographics:
| Interior Designer | Civil Engineer | |
| Average age | 42 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.0% Female, 79.0% | Male, 83.6% Female, 16.4% |
| 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, 3.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 15.6% White, 64.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 5% |