Landing a career in the design space remains a dream for many. Unfortunately, increased competition and a fluctuating economy have discouraged some from pursuing this path. Instead, they gravitate towards fields marked by practicality, job security, and earning potential. But what if we told you there's a field out there where you can make money while exploring your creative side, all at the same time?

Interior design is about how people experience space. It's how we model our homes, workspaces, and public areas. Read on below to learn more about the field. We'll provide answers to all your questions concerning how much interior designers make.

Interior Design Job Description

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Interior designers are responsible for creating functional, safe, and attractive spaces for almost every kind of building. They are responsible for determining what essential and decorative items indoor spaces require.

Color, materials, space planning, and structural requirements are all important components of the job. Interior designers are able to express themselves creatively, while armed with practical skills surrounding 3D modeling, graphic communications, building codes, construction law, and more.

Interior Designer Salary Information

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.

The highest ten percent of earners netted more than $96,470 per year. The organization also found that different areas of interior design are associated with salaries. You can check out the chart below to see what proves most profitable:

Salary information provided by the BLS

Looking outside of the country, things look even more promising. According to International Interior Design Association (IIDA), an advocacy group working on behalf of commercial designers across 58 countries, average salaries have shot up significantly.

The IIDA reports that the average annual salary for an interior designer rose 6.6 percent from 2016 to 2018, from $73,330 to $78,100. We'll note that's a relatively high average salary. The IIDA agrees and has attributed this number to both a booming economy and significant regional disparities.

"The increase in average annual salary is commensurate with the economy in general," says IIDA Deputy Director and Senior Vice President John Czarnecki. " … [T]he increases in salary are in relation to continued economic growth and a healthy design industry in that time period."

At the same time, interior designers located in different areas of the United States can expect widely different earnings. The average designer salary is $75,000 in the Northeast and the West. In the Midwest, designers typically get paid just $63,000. With that, it's no surprise to find out that most interior designers can be found in states with higher incomes, including California, Florida, and New York.

Of course, now that COVID-19 continues to place incredible strain on the economy, it's likely that interior designers will have to take additional measures to secure the same kind of income.

Interior Educational Requirements

As stated, different factors contribute to how much interior designers may earn. Certainly, the economy and location remain two of the most significant. Years of experience will also impact earning potential. But education deserves a place on that list as well.

A bachelor's degree remains the typical entry-level education expected of interior designers. This level of education communicates to employers that the individual is familiar with interior design staples, including a core understanding of color, composition, finishes, and materials in addition to skills like computer-assisted design or marketing communications.

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A bachelor's degree education also ensures that interior designers are familiar with an increasingly popular demand: green building and energy-efficient design. "Sustainable interior design" is something customers have come to expect. How much you know about the subject could very well impact your ability to attract new business.

Even then, there's room to grow. According to the IIDA, interior designers with advanced degrees or extra certification (beyond a bachelor's degree) make a median salary of $15,000 more than designers without those credentials.

Interior Designer Salaries: What can you earn with the NCIDQ Certificate?

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The Council for Interior Design (CDIQ) is the country's leading authority on proficiency in interior design principles and a designer's commitment to the profession.

Their NCIDQ Examination covers seven areas that capture the core competencies of interior design: building systems, codes, construction standards, contract administration, design application, professional practice, and project coordination. The idea is to give clients and employers added confidence in the caliber of work from NCIDQ Certified designers.

Other outlets report similar findings regarding compensation. ZipRecruiter reports that NCIDQ holders in Chicago earn an average salary of $75,425 while those without the certification earn just $53,778, a difference of over $20,000. The state of New York follows close behind, where certified interior designers make $77,603. Non-certified individuals, meanwhile, earn around $57,600.

Interior Design Job Growth

The BLS projects that the number of jobs available to interior designers will decrease by five percent between 2019 and 2029. This will sharpen the competition, making jobs that much more difficult to land. Education and additional certification will inevitably become more important to interior designer salaries and advancement.

FAQ

Is interior design a good job?

According to a report conducted by CareerExplorer, interior design employees rank in the top 30% when it comes to job satisfaction. The area offers a tremendous amount of job security while allowing individuals to indulge their creative side.

How much money does an interior designer make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average interior design salary hovers around $56,000 per year or $26.00 per hour. Higher salaries may also be more common among those working for commercial design companies or individuals with more years on the job.

How much do luxury interior designers make?

An interior designer in the top ten percent of earners will net over $96,000 per year. Higher compensation may be more common among multiple degree holders, individuals with specialized skills or experience in related fields.

How much does an interior designer make out of college?

The lowest ten percent of interior designers earned $31,970. This number is typically associated with entry-level interior designer salaries and is based on information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.