Interior designers held about 75,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of interior designers were as follows:
| Specialized design services | 28% |
| Self-employed workers | 23 |
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | 18 |
| Furniture stores | 6 |
| Wholesale trade | 6 |
Most interior designers work in offices, but technology has changed the way many designers work. For example, interior designers now use software rather than drafting tables to create two- or three-dimensional images.
Interior designers also travel to clients’ design sites.
Work Schedules
Interior designers may need to adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, including meeting with clients in the evening and on weekends.
Interior designers usually need a bachelor’s degree with a focus in interior design or interior architecture.
Education
Interior designers entering the occupation usually need a bachelor’s degree in any field. Coursework should include classes in interior design, drawing, and computer-aided design (CAD).
Programs in interior design are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. Applicants to these programs may need to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design accredits more than 360 postsecondary colleges, universities, and independent institutes that have programs in art and design. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation accredits about 180 professional-level (bachelor’s or master’s degree) interior design programs.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association accredits kitchen and bath design specialty programs (certificate, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree levels) in nearly 100 colleges and universities.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Licensure requirements vary by state. In some states, only licensed designers may do interior design work. In other states, both licensed and unlicensed designers may do such work; however, only licensed designers may use the title “interior designer.” In still other states, both licensed and unlicensed designers may call themselves interior designers and do interior design work.
In states with laws restricting the use of the title ”interior designer,” only candidates who pass their state-approved exam, most commonly the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam, may call themselves registered interior designers. Candidate eligibility for taking the NCIDQ exam includes having at least a bachelor’s degree in interior design and 2 years of full-time work experience.
California requires a different exam, administered by the California Council for Interior Design Certification (CCIDC). To take this exam, eligible candidates must have a combination of education and experience.
Voluntary certification in an interior design specialty, such as environmental design, allows designers to demonstrate expertise in a particular area of the occupation. Interior designers often specialize to distinguish the type of design work they do and to promote their expertise. Certifications usually are available through professional and trade associations and are independent of the NCIDQ licensing examination.
Interior designers typically have an interest in the Creating and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Creating or Persuading interest which might fit with a career as a interior designer, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Interior designers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Artistic ability. Interior designers use their sense of style, to develop designs that look great and are aesthetically pleasing.
Creativity. Interior designers need to be imaginative in selecting furnishings and fabrics and in creating spaces that serve the client’s needs and fit the client’s lifestyle.
Detail oriented. Interior designers need to be precise in measuring interior spaces and making drawings, so that furniture and furnishings will fit correctly and create the appropriate environment.
Interpersonal skills. Interior designers need to be able to communicate effectively with clients and others. Much of their time is spent soliciting new clients and new work and collaborating with other designers, engineers, and general building contractors on ongoing projects.
Problem-solving skills. Interior designers must address challenges, such as construction delays and the high cost or sudden unavailability of selected materials, while keeping the project on time and within budget.
Visualization. Interior designers need a strong sense of proportion and visual awareness, to understand how pieces of a design will fit together to create the intended interior environment.
The median annual wage for interior designers was $56,040 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,970, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $96,470.
In May 2019, the median annual wages for interior designers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Architectural, engineering, and related services | $60,910 |
| Specialized design services | 54,710 |
| Wholesale trade | 53,870 |
| Furniture stores | 47,340 |
Interior designers may need to adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, including meeting with clients in the evening and on weekends.
Employment of interior designers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Designers will be needed to respond to consumer expectations that the interiors of structures meet certain conditions, such as being environmentally friendly and easily accessible.
Although a small percentage of interior designers are directly employed in the construction industry, many interior designers depend heavily on that industry to generate new work projects for them.
In addition to demand created by new construction, demand for interior designers will also arise from the need to remodel and renovate existing homes, commercial buildings, and other facilities, such as hospitals, hotels, and schools. For example, interior designers will be needed to help accommodate the future living needs of an aging population, especially for people who choose to stay in their homes.
Job Prospects
Job prospects should be best in high-income areas, because wealthy clients are more likely than others to engage in remodeling and renovating their spaces. Keeping up to date with the newest design tools, such as three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software, also will improve job prospects.
For more information about interior designers, visit
American Society of Interior Designers
International Interior Design Association
For more information on accredited college degree programs in interior design, visit
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Council for Interior Design Accreditation
For more information on licensing, visit
National Council for Interior Design Qualification
California Council for Interior Design Certification
For more information on accredited kitchen and bath specialty programs in colleges and universities and on voluntary certification programs in residential kitchen and bath design, visit
National Kitchen & Bath Association