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Interior design internship salary
Average interior design internship salary
$45,975
Understanding Interior Design Internship Salaries
The average salary for an Interior Design Internship is around $45,975 per year, translating to approximately $22 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on location, industry, and the intern's experience level. For instance, top-paying states often include California and New York, where the cost of living is higher but so are the opportunities. Interns should also consider the specific sectors they wish to enter, as industries such as architecture or luxury design may offer higher compensation.
Additionally, gaining experience through internships can lead to more lucrative positions post-graduation. Many firms seek interns who have practical skills, making these opportunities essential for career development. By networking and participating in design projects, interns can position themselves favorably in the job market. Investing time in internships not only enhances skills but also provides insights into industry trends and client needs. Consider researching companies that align with your design interests and apply early to secure competitive internships.
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Where can an Interior Design Internship earn more?
Interior design internship salary estimates from across the web
Average interior design internship salary by state
The average interior design internship salary in California, New Mexico, and North Dakota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average interior design internship salary states are Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for interior design interns
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $50,076 | $24.07 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $52,426 | $25.20 |
| 3 | California | $53,923 | $25.92 |
| 4 | Washington | $49,816 | $23.95 |
| 5 | New York | $49,957 | $24.02 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $48,164 | $23.16 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $53,240 | $25.60 |
| 8 | Iowa | $45,607 | $21.93 |
| 9 | Arizona | $45,723 | $21.98 |
| 10 | Idaho | $47,007 | $22.60 |
| 11 | Texas | $44,548 | $21.42 |
| 12 | Kansas | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $49,810 | $23.95 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $44,988 | $21.63 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $49,154 | $23.63 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $44,816 | $21.55 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $46,739 | $22.47 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $42,517 | $20.44 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $43,571 | $20.95 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $42,939 | $20.64 |
| 21 | Delaware | $43,379 | $20.86 |
| 22 | Michigan | $40,563 | $19.50 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $46,746 | $22.47 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $43,343 | $20.84 |
| 25 | Ohio | $41,874 | $20.13 |
| 26 | Maine | $41,575 | $19.99 |
| 27 | Colorado | $42,600 | $20.48 |
| 28 | Missouri | $42,188 | $20.28 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $41,036 | $19.73 |
| 30 | Georgia | $40,976 | $19.70 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $41,184 | $19.80 |
| 32 | Nevada | $41,848 | $20.12 |
| 33 | Alaska | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| 34 | Indiana | $40,649 | $19.54 |
| 35 | Maryland | $41,089 | $19.75 |
| 36 | Virginia | $39,155 | $18.82 |
| 37 | Montana | $35,991 | $17.30 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $39,981 | $19.22 |
| 39 | Illinois | $38,965 | $18.73 |
| 40 | Alabama | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $33,678 | $16.19 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $29,324 | $14.10 |
| 43 | Florida | $37,556 | $18.06 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $39,249 | $18.87 |
| 45 | Vermont | $28,702 | $13.80 |
| 46 | Utah | $31,430 | $15.11 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $34,004 | $16.35 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $32,268 | $15.51 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $33,741 | $16.22 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $33,083 | $15.91 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $29,133 | $14.01 |
Highest paying cities for interior design interns
The highest-paying cities for interior design interns are Seattle, WA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $50,157 | $24.11 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $50,073 | $24.07 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $49,779 | $23.93 |
| 4 | Flagstaff, AZ | $45,758 | $22.00 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $42,561 | $20.46 |
| 7 | Savannah, GA | $41,248 | $19.83 |
| 8 | Grand Rapids, MI | $40,194 | $19.32 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $39,163 | $18.83 |
| 10 | Sarasota, FL | $38,189 | $18.36 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $31,289 | $15.04 |
Interior design internship salary details
An interior design internship's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $63,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an interior design internship's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $45,975 | $3,831 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying interior design internship jobs
The highest paying types of interior design interns are design consultant, interior designer/project manager, and computer designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Merchandiser | $38,037 | $3,170 | $18.29 | 74,351 |
| Design Consultant | $77,803 | $6,484 | $37.41 | 59,470 |
| Kitchen And Bath Designer | $52,406 | $4,367 | $25.20 | 59,890 |
| Design Coordinator | $53,594 | $4,466 | $25.77 | 57,107 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Kitchen Designer | $55,942 | $4,662 | $26.89 | 56,831 |
Top companies hiring interior design interns now:
Which companies pay interior design interns the most?
Interior design internship salaries at LEO A DALY and Jacobs Engineering Group are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average interior design internship salary at companies like HOK and HKS Architects Inc. are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEO A DALY | $60,254 | $28.97 |
| 2 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $58,791 | $28.26 |
| 3 | HOK | $58,402 | $28.08 |
| 4 | HKS Architects Inc. | $57,499 | $27.64 |
| 5 | VOA Associates | $57,465 | $27.63 |
| 6 | Stantec | $57,392 | $27.59 |
| 7 | Gensler | $57,225 | $27.51 |
| 8 | Olson Kundig | $57,051 | $27.43 |
| 9 | StudioSIX5 | $55,713 | $26.79 |
| 10 | General Dynamics | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| 11 | Steelcase | $46,110 | $22.17 |
| 12 | Church Of Jesus Christ Inc | $44,091 | $21.20 |
| 13 | Gulfstream Aerospace | $43,159 | $20.75 |
| 14 | Atria Senior Living | $37,890 | $18.22 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Interior Design Internship salary by industry
The average interior design internship salary varies across industries:
- The average interior design internship salary in the construction industry is $59,888, the highest of any industry.
- The average interior design internship salary in the finance industry is $53,105.
- Interior design interns in the education industry earn an average salary of $44,570, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for interior design interns
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $59,888 | $28.79 |
| 2 | Professional | $53,105 | $25.53 |
| 3 | Media | $51,428 | $24.73 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $45,243 | $21.75 |
| 5 | Education | $44,570 | $21.43 |
High paying interior design internship jobs
Interior design internship salary trends
The average interior design internship salary has risen by $7,606 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average interior design internship earned $38,369 annually, but today, they earn $45,975 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for interior design interns over the last decade.
Compare interior design internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average interior design internship salary over time
Compare interior design internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Interior design internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,000 | $22.10 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $45,200 | $21.71 | +4.8% |
| 2024 | $43,000 | $20.67 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $41,500 | $19.95 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $40,100 | $19.29 | +1.9% |
Recently added interior design internship salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stantec | Library Intern, Interior Design Buildings (Fall 2025) | Chicago, IL | 06/26/2025 | $34,185 |
| One Workplace | Interior Design Intern | Seattle, WA | 05/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| Opensquare | Interior Design Intern | Seattle, WA | 05/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Arcadis | Interior Design Materials Library Intern | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. | Genesis Interior Design Intern | El Segundo, CA | 05/22/2025 | $54,262 |
| One Workplace | Interior Design Intern | Santa Clara, CA | 05/15/2025 | $38,610 |
| Opensquare | Interior Design Intern | Santa Clara, CA | 05/14/2025 | $38,610 |
| Ware Malcomb | Intern, Interior Design | Irvine, CA | 04/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| Tenberke | Interior Design Intern | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Juniper Networks | Commercial Architecture/Interior Design Internship-Summer 2025 | Sunnyvale, CA | 04/27/2025 | $66,400 |
Interior design internship salary FAQs
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