Interior Designer Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$63,000
national median salary
$50,000 to $81,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $67,190 for Interior Designers (SOC 27-1025) across the United States, based on 71,500 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$41,420
25th percentile
$51,840
Median
$67,190
75th percentile
$85,740
90th percentile
$114,140
Workers surveyed
71,500
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$63,490
May 2025 release
$67,190
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Interior Designers (SOC 27-1025) rather than Interior Designerspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 27-1025Highest Paying
$88,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$66,000
Boston, MA
Lowest Paying
$48,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 27-1025. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Interior Designer salary in the United States at $63,000 in 2026, within a range of $50,000 to $81,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $88,000, while Boston offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Specialization in commercial, hospitality, or healthcare interiors drives higher pay than residential work.
Interior Designer salary by city.
Skills that increase Interior Designer pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Interior Designers based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $6,300 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$6,300 per year
≈ +$4,410 per year
≈ +$3,150 per year
≈ +$3,150 per year
≈ +$2,520 per year
≈ +$2,520 per year
≈ +$2,520 per year
What you should know.
Specialization in commercial, hospitality, or healthcare interiors drives higher pay than residential work. Designers with NCIDQ certification, proficiency in Revit and 3D visualization, and a portfolio of large-scale projects earn at the top of the range in major metros.
Junior Interior Designers start at $46,000 to $54,000. Mid-level designers managing client relationships and full projects earn $58,000 to $72,000. Senior Designers and Design Directors reach $75,000 to $95,000, with firm principals and celebrity designers earning well above $120,000.
Self-employed interior designers often earn more through markup on furnishings and materials, adding 20 to 35% to effective income. Salaried roles may include bonuses of 5 to 10% and trade account access for personal projects.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Interior Designers typically earn $55,000 (12% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
Are you an Interior Designer?
Share your real compensation anonymously. Help build the most accurate salary dataset for this role. Your data is never individually exposed.
Common questions about Interior Designer pay.
Related tools