Career profile · SOC 27-1025

Interior Designers

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.

Median salary
$63,490
per year
Growth outlook
Average
BLS 10-yr
Education
Bachelor's degree
AI exposure
5.2/10
automation risk

Salary distribution (US)

Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.

Bottom 10%
$35,830
25th %ile
$46,630
Median
$63,490
75th %ile
$83,400
Top 10%
$104,850

Top skills

Active Listening Speaking Critical Thinking Coordination Complex Problem Solving Judgment and Decision Making Negotiation Time Management Reading Comprehension Social Perceptiveness

Knowledge you'll build

  • Design
  • Fine Arts
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Building and Construction
  • Administration and Management
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Computers and Electronics

A day in the life

Your morning might begin at a client's half-renovated brownstone, measuring rooms and photographing architectural details before heading back to the studio to create mood boards and 3D renderings. You spend part of the day sourcing fabric swatches, light fixtures, and custom furniture from vendors and showrooms, constantly balancing the client's wish list against their budget. Afternoons often involve coordinating with contractors, reviewing floor plans in AutoCAD, and presenting design concepts to clients who are anxious to see their space come together. The best part is the reveal day, when you watch someone walk into a room you transformed and see their face light up.

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