Salary · Interior design
Interior project designer salary in 2026
An interior project designer with 3 to 6 years of experience earns $80,000 to $108,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. The 24 interior project designer postings in our database that list pay have a median of $80,000, and the middle half run $72,000 to $87,000.
Recruiter band
$80–108kbase, 3 to 6 yrs
Posted median
$80k24 postings with pay
Middle half of postings
$72–87ka quarter post below, a quarter above
The ladder
Where this sits in interior design
One rung up, a senior interior designer earns $108k to $145k.
| Role | Chart | Recruiter band | Posted median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior designer0 to 3 yrs | $62k to $80k | $69k12 postings | |
| Interior project designerThis role3 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 project designer jobs with pay
From employer career pages, newest first, one per firm. Each link opens the firm's own posting.
- $80k to $120k / yr
- $63k to $80k / yr
- $70k to $90k / yr
- $55k to $64k / yr
- $70k to $80k / 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 project designers make?
An interior project designer with 3 to 6 years of experience earns $80,000 to $108,000 base at a US mid-market AEC firm, according to 2026 recruiter placement bands. The 24 interior project designer postings in our database that list pay have a median of $80,000, and the middle half run $72,000 to $87,000.
How does an interior project designer earn more?
One rung up, a senior interior designer earns $108k to $145k. 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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