Post job

Interior painter vs interior decorator

The differences between interior painters and interior decorators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become an interior painter, becoming an interior decorator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an interior decorator has an average salary of $47,169, which is higher than the $39,931 average annual salary of an interior painter.

The top three skills for an interior painter include drywall repair, caulking and coats. The most important skills for an interior decorator are customer service, in-home, and space planning.

Interior painter vs interior decorator overview

Interior PainterInterior Decorator
Yearly salary$39,931$47,169
Hourly rate$19.20$22.68
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs5,79611,194
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4242
Years of experience-4

Interior painter vs interior decorator salary

Interior painters and interior decorators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Interior PainterInterior Decorator
Average salary$39,931$47,169
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $59,000Between $32,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between interior painter and interior decorator education

There are a few differences between an interior painter and an interior decorator in terms of educational background:

Interior PainterInterior Decorator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessInterior Design
Most common college-Cornell University

Interior painter vs interior decorator demographics

Here are the differences between interior painters' and interior decorators' demographics:

Interior PainterInterior Decorator
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 76.3% Female, 23.7%Male, 17.1% Female, 82.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 2.0% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%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 Percentage5%23%

Differences between interior painter and interior decorator duties and responsibilities

Interior painter example responsibilities.

  • Manage painting crews in both commercial and industrial environments from swing stage to high boom work.
  • Remove and installation of drywall, wall texturing and plastering.
  • Apply caulking, primer and paint to indoor areas and services.
  • Assist the lead in touch up painting, caulking, taping and covering doorways, cleaning and garbage disposal.
  • Paint steam and water treatment piping using scaffolding, safety harnesses, and follow refinery safety protocols
  • Finish basements, bathroom upgrades, decks, wood flooring, tiling, painting, framing, roofing etc.

Interior decorator example responsibilities.

  • Manage Pinterest, Facebook, and Houzz profiles by responding to questions and updating photos.
  • Conduct in-home design and custom window treatment consultations and sales.
  • Demonstrate skillful communication and negotiation skills.
  • Design, modele and render graphically intensive exteriors and interior environments and animations utilizing the latest in visualization technology.
  • Design, modele and render graphically intensive exteriors and interior environments and animations utilizing the latest in visualization technology.

Interior painter vs interior decorator skills

Common interior painter skills
  • Drywall Repair, 17%
  • Caulking, 13%
  • Coats, 9%
  • Door Frames, 7%
  • Exterior Surfaces, 5%
  • Drop Cloths, 4%
Common interior decorator skills
  • Customer Service, 23%
  • In-Home, 11%
  • Space Planning, 8%
  • Custom Furniture, 8%
  • Trade Shows, 5%
  • Design Projects, 4%

Browse construction and extraction jobs