Salary · Interior design
Interior designer salary in 2026
An interior designer with 0 to 3 years of experience earns $62,000 to $80,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. The 12 interior designer postings in our database that list pay have a median of $69,000, and the middle half run $65,000 to $72,000.
Recruiter band
$62–80kbase, 0 to 3 yrs
Posted median
$69k12 postings with pay
Middle half of postings
$65–72ka quarter post below, a quarter above
The ladder
Where this sits in interior design
One rung up, an interior project designer earns $80k to $108k.
| Role | Chart | Recruiter band | Posted median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior designerThis role0 to 3 yrs | $62k to $80k | $69k12 postings | |
| Interior project designer3 to 6 yrs | $80k to $108k | $80k24 postings | |
| Senior interior designer6 to 10 yrs | $108k to $145k | $103k57 postings | |
| Interior design director | $145k to $200k | Only 3 with pay | |
| Interior design studio lead or associate | $155k to $210k | Only 6 with pay | |
| Interior design principal | $190k to $285k | Only 1 with pay | |
$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k | |||
- What moves it
- Workplace, hospitality, healthcare, senior living and interior architecture. NCIDQ certification is typically worth 3 to 7% at mid levels.
- Bonus
- Bonus typically adds 5 to 15% for senior roles and up to 25% at principal and partner level.
- Basis
- Base salary at US mid-market AEC firms (40 to 400 people), before bonus, equity and project incentive pay.
Posted now
Recent interior designer jobs with pay
From employer career pages, newest first, one per firm. Each link opens the firm's own posting.
- $55k to $85k / yr
- $50k to $80k / yr
- $59k to $89k / yr
- $60k to $60k / yr
- $65k to $75k / yr
BLS benchmark
What all employers pay
The May 2025 federal wage survey covers every level of the occupation at once, so its median sits near the middle of the ladder. City medians are on the interior design page.
- 10th percentile
- $41,420
- 25th percentile
- $51,840
- Median
- $67,190
- 75th percentile
- $85,740
- 90th percentile
- $114,140
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Annual wages, all employers, before bonus and overtime.
Questions
Questions about this pay
How much do interior designers make?
An interior designer with 0 to 3 years of experience earns $62,000 to $80,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. The 12 interior designer postings in our database that list pay have a median of $69,000, and the middle half run $65,000 to $72,000.
How does an interior designer earn more?
One rung up, an interior project designer earns $80k to $108k. NCIDQ certification is typically worth 3 to 7% at mid levels.
Does this include bonus?
No. Base salary at US mid-market AEC firms (40 to 400 people), before bonus, equity and project incentive pay. Bonus typically adds 5 to 15% for senior roles and up to 25% at principal and partner level.
See interior designer jobs that fit you
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