Salary · Interior design
Interior design principal salary in 2026
An interior design principal earns $190,000 to $285,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. Too few interior design principal postings list pay right now to report a posted median.
Recruiter band
$190–285kbase
Posted median
Too few1 posting with pay
Middle half of postings
n/ashown from 10 postings up
The ladder
Where this sits in interior design
This is the top of the interior design ladder.
| Role | Chart | Recruiter band | Posted median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior designer0 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 principalThis role | $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 design principal jobs with pay
From employer career pages, newest first, one per firm. Each link opens the firm's own posting.
- $140k to $218k / 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 design principals make?
An interior design principal earns $190,000 to $285,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. Too few interior design principal postings list pay right now to report a posted median.
How does an interior design principal earn more?
This is the top of the interior design ladder. 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.
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