Interior Designer Salary in United States


Interior Designer Salary
Interior Designer Salary in United States

Introduction: 

A person working as an interior Designer Salary in United States typically earns around 90,100 USD per year. Salaries range from 48,700 USD (lowest)  to 136,000 USD (highest). This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Interior Designer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills,  gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria. 

An Interior Designer with less than two years of experience makes approximately 56,500 USD per year. While someone with an experience level of between two and five years is expected to earn 71,400 USD per year, 26% more than someone with less than two years of experience. Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 94,100 USD per year, 32% more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Additionally, Interior Designer(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 111,000 USD per year, 18% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.

If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 123,000 USD per year, 11% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience. Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 130,000 USD per year, 6% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.

What is an interior designer?

Interior Designer image
(Image Source: home.by.me)

An interior designer is a professional who plans and equips the inside of buildings or houses. They often work with architects to design homes, offices, schools, stores, and other structures. In addition to designing furniture layouts in rooms such as living rooms and kitchens, designers may also be responsible for picking wallpaper colors or choosing paint hues that will complement the decor.

Interior designers are usually educated at art school programs where they study architecture (structural engineering), graphic arts (illustration), or industrial design (product design). Also, an interior designer is someone who knows and understands the design process, from listening to your needs as a client to creating an appropriate space for you. They work on everything from designing furniture layouts in small offices to planning floor plans in large residential complexes. The best way to think about it: they are architects with less of a focus on construction issues. 

How much does an Interior designer make? 

The national average salary for an Interior Designer is $56,355 in the United States.  Filter by location to see Interior Designer salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 3,977 salaries submitted anonymously by Interior Designer employees. 

For instance, if you are looking to stay local and go to school in your home state, you can expect to pay anywhere from $15,000-$25,000 per year. On the other hand, if you are looking at going out of state and pursuing an education in a different area of the country; then you will be looking at paying around $32,000 -$42,500 each year for tuition alone.

What are the benefits of becoming an interior designer?

Becoming an interior designer can be a rewarding career. Interior designers are responsible for creating functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing environments in which people live or work. They use their expertise to solve design problems creatively by selecting colors, textures, furniture, and other furnishings that meet the needs of a client’s lifestyle along with budget constraints. The job is as creative as it is practical–many opportunities exist for those who love decorating their own home! An interior design salary is pretty nice.

It’s a job where you will find yourself working anywhere from 60-80 hours per week, but at the same time, it can be very fulfilling to live out your creativity on a daily basis with clients and see their visions come together in reality. The benefits of becoming an interior designer are that there are great opportunities for advancement within the field if you’re committed to investing in training and education.

You’ll also get exposure to other areas of business such as construction, marketing, sales, etc., so it’s not just about designing spaces – which is another perk! There are also major perks like being able to travel when needed or doing work remotely or as a freelancer. 

What is the salary range for a professional interior designer?

A professional interior designer can expect to make anywhere from $50,000-$100,000 per year. However, some factors that could increase a person’s salary include education level and experience. For example, an entry-level interior design worker who has gone through the proper training will likely start at around $40K for a year, while someone with more than five years of experience may earn upwards of six digits annually. The median income for this position is about $60k to $70k annually in 2016 according to Payscale. This number varies greatly depending on the type of work being done as well as in which country you live.

This is valid especially for European countries, as they have quite different economic development. 
How much does an interior design degree cost? (focused on research for the US and Europe)What does it cost to get an interior design degree? This is a tough question to answer, but one that many people are asking as they look for their next step in life.

In this article, we will explore what makes up the total cost of getting an Interior Design Degree and help guide you on whether or not this investment is worth it!  The price of tuition at a four-year college is usually broken down into two parts – in-state and out-of-state. This can be an important difference as you might find that the cost for one type over another can be drastically different.

The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range:

  • Salary Range

Interior Designer salaries in the United States range from 48,700 USD per year (minimum salary) to 136,000 USD per year (maximum salary).

  • Median Salary

The median salary is 82,900 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Interior Designer(s) are earning less than 82,900 USD while the other half are earning more than 82,900 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.

  • Percentiles

Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Interior designers (s) are earning less than 59,200 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 59,200 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Interior designers (s) are earning less than 101,000 USD while 25% are earning more than 101,000 USD.

Interior Designer Salary image
(Image Source: in.pintrest.com)

Why should I study to become an interior designer:

Overall, Interior Designer is a very trendy, rewarding, and respectful profession. The average salary of a professional Interior designer can be very appealing – like more than $80,000 or more per year. The field is both creative and practical, which appeals to many people who are interested in interior design but not architecture or construction-related fields.

There is also an enormous amount of job security with the current state of the economy making it difficult for home buyers to purchase additional property; this leaves them stuck renting when they would prefer their own space in which to live. As such, there will always be demand for quality interior designs that meet renters’ needs while still projecting personality into those living spaces – no matter how bad things get financially. The world is taking on a new look.

The interior designer does not just choose colors, fabrics, shapes, and textures; he/she also has input into more technical aspects such as layout planning, textiles selection (both hard surfaces such as curtains and other soft materials), and window treatments, color schemes, and lighting. 

What Are the Factors Affecting Interior Designer’s Salary?

The pay rate for interior designers is perhaps more variable than some, considering there is a wide range of jobs and responsibilities associated with the role. Just a few of the factors affecting the salary of an individual designer include their education, credentials, licensing, and, of course, their place of business.

Education:

Designers with specialized education can often command higher pay rates than those lacking formal training. A bachelor’s degree is considered the minimum level necessary to work as an interior designer, though it does not necessarily matter what field that degree is in. As with many other fields, many working interior designers began their careers in a different field entirely and came to design late in the game. 
Degree programs usually include coursework that includes computer-aided design (CAD), drawing, business aspects, and sustainability.

Typically, these courses will cover the breadth of design field options available to young designers in order to give them a taste of what is out there. Interior design degrees are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Higher education programs are typically accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. Together these two organizations accredit over 500 colleges, universities, and institutes.

Credentials or Certifications:

Even after completing an accredited program, professionals need to keep learning. This keeps one abreast of current industry trends and customer needs. Most of these are voluntary programs, and they make a great way to differentiate yourself from the competition.

Additionally, they’re a fantastic way to learn a new aspect of design that could open new niches for your business. Programs like environmental design or sustainability are great ways to stay current. These sorts of programs are available from a wide range of providers, including many professional and trade associations.

Licensing:

Most states in the U.S. require interior designers to be licensed. Others allow unlicensed individuals to do the work, but then do not allow them to use the title “interior designer.” Getting licensed is usually a simple matter of passing a state-approved examination. The most commonly used test is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). To take the exam, you must have a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience working as an interior designer. 

Location and Cost of Living:

Where you live may be the single biggest factor affecting your pay. Areas like New York and Los Angeles have a high demand for experienced designers and a robust market for employees. While the cost of living in these areas is higher, so too are the salaries. The opposite is true in rural areas, where many companies will forgo interior design work and may value it less.

While there is still work in these areas, it becomes much more a factor of supply and demand. If there is work and you are the only designer in town, you may find great success. However, if multiple design firms are competing over jobs, it may become cost-prohibitive to operate in these areas. Market analysis is essential if you are looking to pick up freelance work in any new area.

How much do they make and what can you expect to earn in the future?

In terms of salary, an average interior designer can make anywhere from $36,380 to a whopping $72,510 annually. Some factors that affect the bottom line are experience and specialization so don’t be afraid to ask what they have done in past jobs and how long their resume is for more information on those numbers.

A few other considerations when deciding where you want to work include whether or not you need benefits such as health insurance which many companies do offer even if it’s just coverage for major medical expenses (such as cancer treatments). It also may help your decision-making process by asking about company culture – some places will provide opportunities for continuing education while others prefer designers who stay with one project all day.

Interior Designer image
(Image Source: pt.slideshare.net)

Tips on how to get started as an interior design student or intern:

Finding the best school for you is important, but it’s also worth considering how much a degree in interior design will pay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median wage for an interior designer (in both non-management and management positions) was $51k per year as of 2017. For entry-level designers with no higher education credentials, this means earning about $25/hour if they work full time.

That might sound low at first glance, but consider all the skills employers need before offering someone a job: communication skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, etc.—all things that are learned through undergraduate studies. And remember that your salary goes up on average by 14% each year after graduation because experience always pays back.

Most common benefits Of Interior Designer:

  • Flexible spending account 
  • Health insurance 
  • Health savings account 
  • Life insurance 
  • Opportunities for advancement 
  • Paid sick time 
  • Paid time off 
  • Paid training 
  • Parental leave 
  • Professional development assistance 
  • Profit sharing 
  • Referral program 
  • Retirement plan 
  • Tuition reimbursement 
  • Vision insurance 

FAQs about Interior Designer Salary in United States:

How much does an Interior Designer in the United States make? 

The national average salary for an Interior Designer is $56,355 per year in the United States. Filter by location to see an Interior Designer’s salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 3977 salaries submitted anonymously by an Interior Designer employee. 

What is the highest salary for an Interior Designer in the United States?

The highest salary for an Interior Designer in the United States is $81,613 per year.

What is the lowest salary for an Interior Designer in the United States?

The lowest salary for an Interior Designer in the United States is $38,914 per year.

Do interior designers make good money in USA?

According to the United States Department of Labor, the average interior designer salary is $57,060 per year, which comes up to roughly $27,43 per hour. The salaries vary by state, with the District of Columbia, Arkansas, and New York ranking in the top 3 top paying states in the country for this occupation.

What factors affect the salary range of an interior designer?

Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.

Can interior designers be rich?

For an entry-level interior designer, the average pay is around 4 lakh per annum, while a senior interior designer could earn up to 30 lakh per annum. Receiving a proper salary depends on a lot of factors, such as education, location, work experience, and the size of the company.

How much does an interior designer get paid per hour?

The most updated information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that interior designers across the United States receive a median pay of $56,040 per year or $26.94 per hour.

Does interior design have a future?

The interior design market is expected to see exponential growth by 2025 globally. As per MarketWatch, in 2018, the interior design market was valued at 130,100 million USD and can expect a potential (CAGR) growth rate of 8.5% between 2019-2024, leading the market to be valued at 212,300.

Conclusion: 

The jobs requiring this certification have Interior Designer Salary in United States decreased by 0.93% since 2018. Interior  Designers with this certification earn +21.71% more than the average base salary, which is $54,320 per year.


Sai Sandhya

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