Interior Designers

SOC: 27-1025 O*NET: 27-1025.00
Median Salary
$63,490
per year
Job Growth
➑️ 3.2%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
7.8
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

What does a Interior Designers do?

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

How much can you earn?

Salary Distribution by Percentile

Understanding where you might fall in the salary range based on experience and location.

10th
$38,094
25th
$50,792
50th (Median)
$63,490
75th
$76,188
90th
$95,235

Percentile Explained: If you're in the 75th percentile, you earn more than 75% of workers in this occupation. Entry-level positions typically fall in the 10th-25th percentile range, while experienced professionals often reach the 75th-90th percentile.

Typical Benefits Package

Health & Wellness

  • βœ“Health Insurance
  • βœ“Dental Insurance
  • βœ“Vision Insurance
  • βœ“Mental Health Support
  • βœ“Wellness Programs

Financial Benefits

  • βœ“401(k) Retirement Plan
  • βœ“Employer Match (typically 3-6%)
  • βœ“Profit Sharing
  • βœ“Stock Options
  • βœ“Performance Bonuses

Work-Life Balance

  • βœ“Paid Time Off (15-25 days)
  • βœ“Paid Sick Leave
  • βœ“Flexible Work Arrangements
  • βœ“Remote Work Options
  • βœ“Parental Leave

Professional Development

  • βœ“Tuition Reimbursement
  • βœ“Professional Certifications
  • βœ“Conference Attendance
  • βœ“Training Programs
  • βœ“Mentorship Opportunities

Note: Benefits vary widely by employer, company size, and location. Large corporations and tech companies often offer more comprehensive packages, while small businesses may offer fewer benefits but more flexibility. Always review the complete compensation package, not just base salary.

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:87,100

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+3.2%
Annual Openings:7,800

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)87,100
Current
2034 (Projected)89,900
+3.2%
+2,800
Employment Change
+3.2%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: As fast as average

Key Growth Factors

  • β€’Average growth expected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Reading Comprehension
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Critical Thinking
86%
#4
Speaking
80%
#5
Coordination
74%
#6
Service Orientation
66%
#7
Social Perceptiveness
60%
#8
Complex Problem Solving
54%
#9
Writing
46%
#10
Judgment and Decision Making
40%

Skills Overview

Reading Comprehension
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.3
86%
Speaking
intermediate4.0
80%
Coordination
intermediate3.7
74%
Service Orientation
intermediate3.3
66%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.0
60%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced2.7
54%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:
Sort by:

Reading Comprehension

advanced
Importance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0

Active Listening

advanced
Importance94%
skills
4.7/5.0

Critical Thinking

intermediate
Importance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0

Speaking

intermediate
Importance80%
skills
4.0/5.0

Coordination

intermediate
Importance74%
skills
3.7/5.0

Service Orientation

intermediate
Importance66%
skills
3.3/5.0

Social Perceptiveness

intermediate
Importance60%
skills
3.0/5.0

Complex Problem Solving

advanced
Importance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0

Writing

basic
Importance46%
skills
2.3/5.0

Judgment and Decision Making

basic
Importance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Registered Nurses82%
5 shared skills
Advertising and Promotions Managers82%
5 shared skills
Physician Assistants82%
5 shared skills
Child, Family, and School Social Workers82%
5 shared skills
Chiropractors82%
5 shared skills
Police Identification and Records Officers82%
5 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Must Have:
  • βœ“Active Listening
  • βœ“Speaking
Learn on the Job:
  • β†’Service Orientation
  • β†’Social Perceptiveness
  • β†’Complex Problem Solving

Mid Career

Expected:
  • βœ“Active Listening
  • βœ“Speaking
  • βœ“Reading Comprehension
  • βœ“Critical Thinking

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • β˜…Active Listening
  • β˜…Speaking
  • β˜…Reading Comprehension
  • β˜…Critical Thinking

Skill Development Tips

  • β€’Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
  • β€’Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
  • β€’Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
  • β€’Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Interior Designers

Technology Intensity
Very High
πŸ”₯

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

Autodesk AutoCAD

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Autodesk Revit

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Trimble SketchUp Pro

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Adobe InDesign

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Adobe Acrobat

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Outlook

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Adobe Creative Cloud software

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Adobe Illustrator

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Adobe Photoshop

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Office software

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft PowerPoint

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Microsoft Project

πŸ”₯ Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

Autodesk AutoCAD
Autodesk Revit
Trimble SketchUp Pro
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Adobe Creative Cloud software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Project

πŸ“š Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

  • β€’Vendor-specific software certifications
  • β€’Industry-recognized technology credentials
  • β€’Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

  • β€’LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
  • β€’Coursera - University-level programs
  • β€’Udemy - Practical skills training

πŸ’‘ Technology Skill Development Tips

  • β€’Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
  • β€’Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
  • β€’Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
  • β€’Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏒
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
πŸ’ͺ
Physical Demand
VERY HIGH
πŸ‘₯
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🀝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT

πŸ’‘Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

  • β€’Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
  • β€’Can you meet very high physical demands?
  • β€’Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
  • β€’Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What education is required?

Education Required

Bachelor's degree or higher

Experience Required

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

Job Training

Significant preparation with related work experience