Life As an Interior Designer
Interior Designer Job Description Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
Interior Designer Responsibilities
- Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, and purpose and function.
- Advise client on interior design factors such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art works, and accessories.
- Research and explore the use of new materials, technologies, and products to incorporate into designs.
Featured schools near , edit
Interior Designer Skills
When polled, Interior Designers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Types of Interior Designer Jobs
- Showroom Executive Director
- Home Designer
- Kitchen and Bath Designer
- Decorator
- Interior Design Assistant
Are There Job Opportunities for Interior Designers?
There were about 66,500 jobs for Interior Designer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 4.5% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,000 new jobs for Interior Designer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Interior Designer are Utah, Oregon, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does an Interior Designer Make?
The typical yearly salary for Interior Designers is somewhere between $29,970 and $94,130.

Interior Designers who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Interior Designers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,780 |
Alaska | $71,150 |
Arkansas | $66,840 |
California | $68,440 |
Colorado | $58,580 |
Delaware | $59,240 |
District of Columbia | $79,230 |
Florida | $50,410 |
Georgia | $53,800 |
Hawaii | $65,300 |
Idaho | $54,380 |
Illinois | $52,150 |
Indiana | $42,610 |
Iowa | $44,800 |
Kansas | $54,630 |
Kentucky | $52,590 |
Louisiana | $42,210 |
Maine | $46,180 |
Maryland | $66,140 |
Massachusetts | $66,250 |
Michigan | $51,030 |
Minnesota | $61,220 |
Mississippi | $56,960 |
Missouri | $60,570 |
Montana | $58,550 |
Nebraska | $45,200 |
Nevada | $56,520 |
New Hampshire | $54,020 |
New Jersey | $57,980 |
New Mexico | $52,370 |
New York | $66,790 |
North Carolina | $54,650 |
North Dakota | $48,960 |
Ohio | $55,230 |
Oklahoma | $47,630 |
Oregon | $57,100 |
Pennsylvania | $57,730 |
Rhode Island | $75,110 |
South Carolina | $47,680 |
South Dakota | $57,620 |
Tennessee | $49,590 |
Texas | $56,430 |
Utah | $62,220 |
Vermont | $53,720 |
Virginia | $52,670 |
Washington | $63,480 |
West Virginia | $52,490 |
Wisconsin | $47,580 |
Wyoming | $60,550 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Interior Designers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Interior Designers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- IBM Notes
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Autodesk Revit
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- McNeel Rhino software
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- MAXON CINEMA 4D
Becoming an Interior Designer
Education needed to be an Interior Designer:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Interior Designers Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Interior Designers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming an Interior Designer might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Interior Designer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Szilas in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |