Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between interior designers and design coordinators 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 design coordinator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a design coordinator has an average salary of $53,594, 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 design coordinator are revit, sketch, and BIM.
| Interior Designer | Design Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $52,482 | $53,594 |
| Hourly rate | $25.23 | $25.77 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 48,020 | 57,107 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
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 design coordinator is responsible for collating and analyzing designs for construction that meet business requirements and budget limitations. Design coordinators create expenses forecasting by identifying the resources and materials to be used and the estimated duration for project deliverables. They also coordinate with the clients to share progress updates and modify plans as needed according to specifications. A design coordinator negotiates contract offers with suppliers and third-party vendors, minimize excessive costings, and ensure high-quality outputs.
Interior designers and design coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Interior Designer | Design Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $52,482 | $53,594 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $78,000 | Between $38,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Alaska |
| Best paying company | German International School New York | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Technology |
There are a few differences between an interior designer and a design coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Interior Designer | Design Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Interior Design | Graphic Design |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between interior designers' and design coordinators' demographics:
| Interior Designer | Design Coordinator | |
| Average age | 42 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.0% Female, 79.0% | Male, 44.7% Female, 55.3% |
| 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, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 23% | 13% |