Arts, design, media and sports
Interior designer
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.
Median pay
$67,190
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
7,700
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Interior designer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Interior designer: 52% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
- Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
- Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
Also called: Certified Kitchen Designer · Color and Materials Designer · Commercial Interior Designer · Decorating Consultant · Designer · Interior Decorator · Interior Design Consultant · Interior Design Coordinator
Outlook and AI
Interior designers held 97,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 99,700 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Interior designer vs. Commercial and industrial designers
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- Interior designer vs. Set and exhibit designers
- Interior designer vs. Architectural and civil drafters
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- Interior designer vs. Mechanical drafter