What You Need to Know About Interior Designer
Career 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.
Life As an Interior Designer: What Do They Do?
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
- Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.
- Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
- Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.
- Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of an Interior Designer
Below is a list of the skills most Interior Designers say are important on the job.
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.
Other Interior Designer Job Titles
- Showroom Executive Director
- Kitchen Designer
- Room Designer
- Interior Design Consultant
- Designer
Job Opportunities for Interior Designers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 66,500 jobs in the United States for Interior Designer. 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. The BLS estimates 6,500 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
What is the Average Salary of an Interior Designer
The salary for Interior Designers ranges between about $29,970 and $94,130 a year.
Interior Designers who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or Rhode Island, make the highest salaries.
How much do Interior Designers make in different U.S. states?
| 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 |
What Tools do Interior Designers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Interior Designers:
- 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
Learn what Interior Designer education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Interior Designers Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Interior Designers employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Interior Designer might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as an Interior Designer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Szilas in the Budapest Museum of Applied Arts via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
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 > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.