Interior Designer Careers

The global interior design market is valued at $150.7 billion. The market is also projected to achieve $255.44 billion by 2027.

This analysis makes it one of the most lucrative industries in the economy. A career in interior design offers you diverse career options with significant financial benefits.

Professionals in this field are highly sought after by businesses and homeowners globally. Interior designers enhance living and working spaces to the desires of their clients.

Why Choose Interior Design?

• A BLS report of 2021 shows that interior designers earn a median wage of $60,340.
• This career offers creative liberty and allows you to bring your visions to life.
• An interior design career provides diverse career paths with rewarding benefits.
• Professional interior designers are essentially entrepreneurs and can choose what jobs to take or decline.

How to Start your Interior Design Journey

The skills needed for an interior design career are solely practical. Aspiring interior designers can quickly start their journey by taking training courses or volunteer jobs.

An associate's degree qualifies you for entry-level jobs.

While a bachelor’s degree allows you to practice as a licensed interior designer. Managerial and administrative roles are reserved for master's and doctorate degree holders.

Educational Requirements

Associate Degree

An associate's degree lasts for two years. This program gives you a comprehensive study of the aesthetics of design and decoration. You also learn drawing and graphic designs by using AutoCAD and building codes. With this degree, you can work as an assistant interior designer or lighting designer.

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete. You’ll learn all about aesthetic, technical, and business skills. This degree prepares you for managerial roles in the design and architecture fields. You also acquire in-depth practical knowledge by developing your skills in a working environment.

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree takes about two years to complete. You will be required to write the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exams. This degree analyzes human behavior and environmental psychology. A master’s gives you a distinctive salary advantage over lower degrees. You can work in leadership roles as a professor, or researcher.

Doctorate in Interior Design

A doctorate in this field typically takes two to five years to complete. This interior design program prepares you for leadership positions in design. You can work in government, academic and administrative positions. An advanced degree focuses on philosophical and theoretical views on design. It analyzes the study of safe and functional environments.

Employment Prospects

The demand for renovation and design projects increases daily. Homeowners and businesses are always looking for Interior designers to build safe, functional spaces.

Employment opportunities are highest for interior designers who meet all client standards. However, self-employed interior designers have fewer job opportunities available.

Interior Design Career Forecast

The bureau of labor statistics report above predicts that the job outlook for interior design careers suggests minimal change from 2021 to 2031.

Regardless of the stunted employment growth, over 8,200 available interior design jobs are projected every year. These numbers encompass the job outlook for the next decade, on average.

Lucrative Interior Design Career Paths

Commercial Interior Designer

A commercial interior designer develops safe, functional interior spaces. They provide aesthetics like color, decor, furniture, lighting, and more.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of commercial designers is $51,886. Designers can earn as high as $69,000 or as low as $41,000 per year.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Create blueprints and schematics for contractor use.
• Authorize suitable equipment and materials for the design of the structure.
• Verify all expenditure stays within the set budgetary limits.
• Collaborate with new clients, contractors and engineers to confirm timely project completion.

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Office supply and copy stores
• Real estate

Interior Design Assistant

An interior design assistant helps senior designers with various design tasks. They manage client relationships and oversee the completion of projects.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of an interior design assistant is $43,601. The pay varies depending on education and skills. The typical wage ranges between $34,566 and $47,808.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Design floor plans and diagrams to establish visual representations of design concepts
• Submit mock-ups or final proposals to clients for authorization.
• Organize art, decor, furniture, and other design elements.
• Discover interior design trends and market conditions.

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Real estate
• Home furniture and houseware stores

Interior Decorator

interior decorators create spaces aesthetically appealing for homes and businesses. They work alongside clients to build a space that meets clients’ aesthetic standards.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of an interior decorator is $43,110. The normal salary range falls between $32,500 and $62,500.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with professionals to develop an accurate design plan.
• Present project proposals to clients
• Construct 3D drawings of interior space layouts and present them to clients.
• Perform market research to observe design trends and consumer biases.

Industries Employing

• HR consulting
• Internet and web services
• Advertising and public relations

Color Consultant

A color consultant creates attractive color designs for clients' goals. They match clients’ design needs using color physiology and color design theories.

Average Salary

A color consultant’s average annual salary is $99,853. The salaries typically range from $27,260 to $162,630. In contrast, the median salary of this career is $120,493.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Select color schemes, styles, themes, and layouts
• Use computer aided design software to create prototypes and other visual presentations.
• Review new clients space and familiarize themselves with their needs and requirements
• Stay up to date with the latest interior design trends and color schemes.

Industries Employing

• General merchandise and superstores
• Department, clothing and shoe stores
• Beauty and personal accessories stores

Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer creates fixtures and presentations for events and shows. They work temporarily for museums, galleries, libraries, and other sites.

Average Salary

An exhibition designer’s average annual salary is $51,999. The salary range varies depending on skill and education. Most designers in this field earn between $33,000 to $75,000 annually.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop initial design sketches and computer-generated 2D and 3D visualizations using computer aided design tools.
• Travel to exhibitions to oversee work onsite
• Create technical drawings for the formation of exhibitions and fixtures
• Install and dismantle exhibition presentations

Industries Employing

• Internet and web services
• HR consulting
• General merchandise and superstores

Lighting Interior Designer

Lighting interior designers design and install lighting and electrical effects for the production. They create a stunning impact with different light mediums to match the mood.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of lighting interior designers is $60,596. The base salary typically ranges from $42,000 to $92,000 per year.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lighting interior designers work alongside a creative team to develop new ideas and designs
• Design the lighting and effects needed for the performance
• Constantly monitor project budget and energy usage.
• Construct lighting plots and electrical and partition layouts.

Industries Employing

• General merchandise and super stores
• Real estate
• Architectural and engineering services

Interior Design Blogger

An interior design blogger provides valuable information on how to design spaces. They share insight into creative designs and trends through blogs with their communities.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of an interior design blogger is $46,177 or $19.83 per hour. This salary can vary depending on skill, education, and experience.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Share designs and creative aesthetics with readers and followers
• Connect with most interior designers and get appropriate feedback from designs
• Engage audience and clients through your design blog
• Create high-quality content and source design photos

Industries Employing

• Internet and web services
• Advertising and public relations
• Business consulting

Kitchen and Bath Interior Designer

A kitchen and bath interior designer plans and decorate kitchens and bathrooms. They are experts in appliances, cabinets, fixtures, and functional layout.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of kitchen and bath designers is $52,406. The salary range varies depending on skill and education. The salary range can fall between $33,000 to $81,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Help clients select appropriate design materials
• Keep clients informed and updated on all project changes
• Provide a budget estimate for a project
• Make use of computer-aided design tools to construct kitchen or bath interior designs.

Industries Employing

• Houseware and home furniture stores
• Wholesale
• Restaurants and cafes

Senior Interior Designer

A senior interior designer oversees all procedures of a project. They coordinate the design team and prepare models and layouts for the project.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a senior interior designer is $65,300. The salary range varies depending on skills and education. The typical salary range falls between $53,900 and $76,500.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Act as project manager and review construction documents to meet all requirements
• Create sketches and illustrations to convey design concepts to clients
• Take part in client meetings to discuss design plans and building permits.
• Collaborate with landscape architects and contractors to ensure smooth construction.

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Municipal agencies
• Civil and social services

Furniture Interior Designer

A furniture interior designer develops visually appealing furniture for indoor spaces. They utilize complex software to design the best products for a renovated room.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of furniture designers is $51,638. The estimated additional pay annually is $3,170.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Communicate with clients about design objectives and specialized design services.
• Design exterior and interior furnishings
• Plan a budget for materials and construction
• Assess and improve existing designs using computer models and physical prototypes

Industries Employing

• Home furniture and houseware stores
• Architectural and engineering services
• Office supply and copy stores

Set Designer

A set designer designs and creates sets for a theater production. They take rough sketches from the production team and make them into a realistic layout.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a set designer is $57,970. This salary range varies depending on your level of skills and education. The standard wage ranges between $35,000 and $94,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Examine the script and work with the art directors to develop a concept for the production.
• Create practical designs within the usable budget
• Sketch design concepts to create a storyboard
• Create and photograph scale models

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Beauty and personal accessories stores
• Department, clothing and shoe stores

Sustainable Interior Designer

A sustainable interior designer creates interior design spaces with low environmental impact. They utilize universal design principles to develop design concepts that reflect the environment.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of sustainable interior designers is $49,810, or $23.95 per hour. The salary ranges typically depend on your level of skill and education.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Illustrate design concepts to team and clients for clearance
• Select equipment and suppliers and organize installation
• Integrate environmentally conscious products
• Oversee construction sites and monitor project cost

Industries Employing x

• Business consulting
• Architectural and engineering services
• Enterprise software and network solutions

Design Manager

A design manager plans and coordinates all design projects. They create design techniques, delegate tasks, and educate team members.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a design manager is $78,451. The salary range varies depending on the level of skill and education. The typical wage ranges between $56,000 and $118,500.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Motivate internal and external design teams
• Supervise the design procedures using technical skills and expertise
• Work alongside clients to match their expectations.
• Examine designs with a focus on health and safety

Industries Employing

• General merchandise and superstores
• Business consulting
• Architectural and engineering services

Healthcare Interior Designer

A healthcare interior designer renovates healthcare centers and their facilities. They design calming and appealing spaces for patients and staff.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a healthcare interior designer is $72,283. The compensation varies depending on your certification, skills, and education. The typical salary range falls between $57,500 and $97,000.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with healthcare sales to review budgets and other crucial information
• Conduct client meetings to analyze their needs and expectations
• Participate in product tests and selection of materials
• Execute on-site field measurements to assess crucial dimensions

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Healthcare services and hospitals
• HR consulting

Residential Interior Designer

A residential interior designer transforms homes into comfortable and aesthetic spaces. They adhere to clients' styles and create a visually pleasing liveable home.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of residential designers is $63,373. The standard salary range typically falls between $51,000 and $85,000 yearly.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients, architects, and other professionals
• Residential interior designers review and determine the needs of the building’s owner
• Decide on colors, lighting, and materials to make indoor spaces attractive and functional
• Residential designers are responsible for the layout, design, and decoration of a residential building

Industries Employing

• Architectural and engineering services
• Home furniture and housewares stores
• Real Estate

Visual Merchandiser

A visual merchandiser appealingly displays items to attract customers. They monitor current trends to provide displays that are relevant to customers.

Average Salary

The average annual salary of a visual merchandiser is $38,037. This salary range varies depending on skills and education. The expected wage usually falls between $27,000 and $53,000 yearly.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Design and execute a creative visual merchandising strategy
• Create appealing visual displays that attract customers to the store
• Generate and present design ideas with assistant merchandisers
• Collaborate with suppliers and source design materials

Industries Employing

• General merchandise and superstores
• Department, clothing and shoe stores
• Home furniture and housewares stores

How to Boost your Interior Design Career

To boost your interior design career, you must earn the proper certifications and skills.

An associate's degree only takes you so far. You need to earn a BSc to gain more opportunities. You can also obtain an MSc to bolster your employment and salary options.

Your interior design portfolio should also be crisp and professional. It should immediately attract a potential employer and present you as an expert in your field.

Pros and Cons of Interior Design Careers

An interior design career can be fun, but it also involves long hours of work. Here are some of the pros and cons of interior design careers.

Pros

• An interior design career provides great salary benefits
• You can express your inner artist and develop yourself creatively
• You are provided the flexibility to choose your working hours
• Interior designers are offered a diverse interior design career path to pursue

Cons

• Clients are highly demanding and can impose high expectations
• Many interior designers work on projects that don’t match your style or design skills
• This profession typically needs long unsociable working hours
• Your salary at the beginning of your career can be low.

Skills You’ll Develop While Studying Interior Design

Here is a list of essential skills you need to develop to advance your career in interior design.

Critical Thinking and Analysis

Critical thinking skills help you analyze different aspects of a project. It enables interior designers to collaborate effectively with your client and other professionals.

interior designers work with a team to complete a project. With this skill, you can effectively delegate and prioritize tasks. You can also work on multiple projects at once.

Software Skills

Interior designers produce designs using computer design softwares to present their work visually. And most clients are more attracted to 2D or 3D visual models.

Aspiring interior design professionals should develop adequate software skills to deliver accurate design projects. Some examples of standard software programs are AutoCAD, Sketchup, and Adobe Illustrator.

Management Skills

Many interior designers work in design firms. As such, interior designers often oversee projects and manage a team of designers. You should acquire proper management skills to help you delegate tasks appropriately.

This skill also helps you manage project budgets, equipment and procedures. With this skill, you can quickly identify risks and hazards in every project and respond accordingly.

Interpersonal Skills

Interior designers working in a social environment with multiple clients need interpersonal skills. Building accurate interpersonal skills helps you communicate and relate well with clients.

This skill also helps you work efficiently with other interior designers. You can correctly sell your ideas, make suggestions and develop better proposals.

Attention to Detail

Interior designers constantly design multiple spaces. An attentive mind helps you focus on the little details and the big picture simultaneously.

You become efficient in project management. This skill helps you manage installations and ensure all equipment meets specifications. It also enables you to identify errors quickly and make the proper repairs.

How to Prepare for a Interior Design Career

Before you can become an interior designer, you must obtain the proper interior design certification. You also have to gain adequate experience in the field.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design

To be qualified for an interior design career, you need to acquire a bachelor's degree. This interior design program trains you in design theory, architecture and business.

A BSc certificate provides wider career opportunities than an associate's degree. It also helps you develop essential design skills and gives you access to higher-paying jobs.

2. Pass the NCIDQ Exam and Acquire an Interior Design License

Interior designers are required to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exams. Not all states require this license, but most prohibit working without one.

To qualify for this exam, you need proper interior design education and experience. You also need a BSc and a minimum of two years of working experience.

3. Take an Internship program And Gain Professional Experience

You can prepare for an interior design career by gaining professional experience. You can start by obtaining internships from renowned design firms.

You can also go pro bono and offer your services to a non-profit interior design business. The important thing is to develop your existing skills in a working environment.

4. Build a Strong Design Portfolio

While working on any project, you should remember to take quality photographs. A high-quality and comprehensive interior design resume and portfolio is an integral part of your interior design career.

Your portfolio reflects your skills, expertise, creativity, and design styles. Your portfolio should also be impressive enough to gain client attraction.

Interior Design Resources to Help Your Career

You can improve your interior design career by engaging in these interior design programs and publications.

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Becoming a member of this organization builds your future business connections. It provides an accredited interior design certificate by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

**New York Institute of Art and Design: **This design institute offers intensive interior design courses. It also provides a valid working certificate.

Elle Decor: This is one of the most renowned fashion designers and interior decor magazines globally. You can get creative inspiration and deep knowledge from this publication.

How to Switch to a Interior Design Career

An interior design career does not necessarily require you to go back to school. You can become an interior designer by engaging in training programs and developing design skills.

Likewise, you can earn a BSC from an accredited institution to get proper licensing. This option helps if you have no schooling or prior skills to transition into this career.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Interior Design?

Interior design involves understanding human behavior to create a functional, comfortable space. It is the science of aesthetically enhancing a property that concedes and safeguards human needs and desires.

What certification do I need for an Interior Design career?

Before you can become an interior designer, you need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The NCIQ certification is also required to practice any interior design job or own interior design business.

Can I get an Interior Design degree online?

There are numerous online schools to acquire an interior design degree. These institutions offer accredited interior design programs and courses. You also earn a degree that is just as valid as one from a physical institute.

What fields can Interior Design professionals work in?

An interior design career offers diverse career options in the interior design industry. You can specialize in commercial interior design or residential interior design. You can also work as an industrial designer or graphic designer. Most of these internal designing fields provide many perks and financial benefits.

Is there a high demand for Interior Design majors?

Interior designers are in constant demand globally. There will always be homeowners, businesses, and events that require the expertise of interior designers. The BLS report above also shows over 8,200 interior designer careers available yearly.

Final Thoughts

Opting for an interior design career can be a life-altering decision. This profession is highly lucrative and always in demand. It offers a variety of career opportunities with their respective benefits. If you want to become a successful interior designer, you can only do so with the right skills and qualifications.