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The position of an interior designer is both creative and financially rewarding. As of October 2025, the average annual salary for this profession is around $52,482. Factors influencing these earnings include geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment. For instance, designers in metropolitan areas typically earn higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living.
According to data, states like California and New York offer some of the highest salaries in the field, with professionals often earning upwards of $70,000 in certain specializations. Additionally, industries such as residential design and commercial spaces can provide varied salary scales, with commercial designers frequently commanding higher pay.
Entry-level interior designers can expect to earn between $40,000 and $45,000 annually, while those with more than five years of experience typically see salaries rise to $60,000 or more. Continuous professional development and certification can further enhance earning potential and open doors to senior positions.
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The average interior designer salary in North Dakota, Idaho, and New Mexico are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average interior designer salary states are Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $61,159 | $29.40 |
| 2 | Washington | $61,623 | $29.63 |
| 3 | Idaho | $64,144 | $30.84 |
| 4 | Colorado | $59,611 | $28.66 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $67,385 | $32.40 |
| 6 | Utah | $53,940 | $25.93 |
| 7 | California | $60,077 | $28.88 |
| 8 | New York | $57,742 | $27.76 |
| 9 | New Mexico | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $57,836 | $27.81 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $55,197 | $26.54 |
| 12 | Maine | $52,992 | $25.48 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $52,297 | $25.14 |
| 14 | Iowa | $56,761 | $27.29 |
| 15 | Nevada | $54,601 | $26.25 |
| 16 | Vermont | $53,407 | $25.68 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $57,205 | $27.50 |
| 18 | Michigan | $50,936 | $24.49 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $53,789 | $25.86 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $51,279 | $24.65 |
| 21 | Georgia | $49,953 | $24.02 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $51,608 | $24.81 |
| 23 | Arizona | $52,287 | $25.14 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $50,681 | $24.37 |
| 26 | Ohio | $49,480 | $23.79 |
| 27 | Texas | $49,516 | $23.81 |
| 28 | Montana | $49,946 | $24.01 |
| 29 | Delaware | $48,914 | $23.52 |
| 30 | Maryland | $49,463 | $23.78 |
| 31 | New Jersey | $49,968 | $24.02 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $48,895 | $23.51 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $45,078 | $21.67 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $44,212 | $21.26 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $45,124 | $21.69 |
| 37 | Illinois | $43,088 | $20.72 |
| 38 | Alaska | $44,589 | $21.44 |
| 39 | Kansas | $43,757 | $21.04 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $43,007 | $20.68 |
| 41 | Virginia | $41,604 | $20.00 |
| 42 | Alabama | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $43,477 | $20.90 |
| 44 | Missouri | $42,922 | $20.64 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $42,275 | $20.32 |
| 46 | Florida | $41,694 | $20.05 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,589 | $20.96 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $40,028 | $19.24 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $39,158 | $18.83 |
| 50 | Indiana | $36,776 | $17.68 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $32,928 | $15.83 |
The highest-paying cities for interior designers are Sacramento, CA, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento, CA | $67,277 | $32.34 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $61,954 | $29.79 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $61,318 | $29.48 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $59,718 | $28.71 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $57,841 | $27.81 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $57,677 | $27.73 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $55,251 | $26.56 |
| 8 | Salt Lake City, UT | $54,134 | $26.03 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $53,704 | $25.82 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $53,247 | $25.60 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $52,339 | $25.16 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $51,706 | $24.86 |
| 13 | Detroit, MI | $50,934 | $24.49 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,925 | $24.48 |
| 15 | Fort Lee, NJ | $50,312 | $24.19 |
| 16 | Atlanta, GA | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| 17 | Austin, TX | $49,962 | $24.02 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $48,854 | $23.49 |
| 20 | Charlotte, NC | $44,037 | $21.17 |
Interior Designers are the most in-demand in these five cities:
An interior designer's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $52,482 | $4,374 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
The highest paying types of interior designers are interactive designer, visual designer, and design consultant.
| 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 |
| Design Coordinator | $53,594 | $4,466 | $25.77 | 57,107 |
| Design Internship | $45,791 | $3,816 | $22.01 | 97,018 |
| Graphic Designer Internship | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 | 93,292 |
| Kitchen And Bath Designer | $52,406 | $4,367 | $25.20 | 59,890 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for interior designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido
Assistant Professor, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Top companies hiring interior designers now:
Interior designer salaries at German International School New York and Starbucks are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average interior designer salary at companies like Tesla and Faraday Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German International School New York | $83,942 | $40.36 |
| 2 | Starbucks | $71,485 | $34.37 |
| 3 | Tesla | $70,197 | $33.75 |
| 4 | Faraday Technology | $70,067 | $33.69 |
| 5 | Rivian | $69,308 | $33.32 |
| 6 | Grainger | $68,906 | $33.13 |
| 7 | Seres | $68,528 | $32.95 |
| 8 | RH | $68,124 | $32.75 |
| 9 | Kohler Co. | $67,216 | $32.32 |
| 10 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $64,806 | $31.16 |
| 11 | Wayfair | $64,365 | $30.94 |
| 12 | Inter-American Development Bank | $64,289 | $30.91 |
| 13 | Bbg | $62,754 | $30.17 |
| 14 | Stellar | $62,638 | $30.11 |
| 15 | Geisinger Medical Center | $62,498 | $30.05 |
| 16 | Carilion Clinic | $62,489 | $30.04 |
| 17 | DKT International | $62,231 | $29.92 |
| 18 | Mitchell | $62,013 | $29.81 |
| 19 | Rafael Viñoly Architects | $61,663 | $29.65 |
| 20 | HLW | $61,581 | $29.61 |
The average interior designer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $57,354 | $27.57 |
| 2 | Professional | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $51,615 | $24.81 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $51,040 | $24.54 |
| 5 | Retail | $49,030 | $23.57 |
The average interior designer salary has risen by $8,683 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average interior designer earned $43,799 annually, but today, they earn $52,482 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for interior designers over the last decade.
Compare interior designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare interior designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $52,500 | $25.23 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $51,500 | $24.78 | +4.8% |
| 2024 | $49,100 | $23.60 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $47,400 | $22.77 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $45,800 | $22.03 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gensler | Designer-Interior Design | Los Angeles, CA | 06/30/2025 | $68,000 |
| Gensler | Designer-Healthcare Interiors | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $62,000 |
| Gensler | Interior Designer-Healthcare, Sciences and Education | Fine, NY | 06/30/2025 | $95,000 |
| Explore Charleston | Interior Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $67,000 |
| Explore Charleston | Project Interior Designer IV | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $90,095 |
| Actalent | Interior Designer | Saint Paul, MN | 06/29/2025 | $104,350 |
| Perkins&Will | Interior Designer | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $84,500 |
| Actalent | Interior Designer | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $60,189 |
| Cannondesign | Project Interior Designer IV | Denver, CO | 06/28/2025 | $90,095 |
| La-Z-Boy, Inc. | Interior Designer | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
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