As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Specialist Interior Designer in the United States is $81,000 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.
However, a Specialist Interior Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered HR
Smart Recruiting
A Specialist Interior Designer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Specialist Interior Designer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Interior Designer | 0-2 years | $53,843 |
| Intermediate Interior Designer | 2-4 years | $60,872 |
| Senior Interior Designer | 4-7 years | $70,108 |
| Specialist Interior Designer | 7+ years | $80,931 |
| Expert/Principal Interior Designer | 7-10 years | $93,759 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Specialist Interior Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Presentation | 5.24% |
| Business Model | 2.54% |
| PowerPoint | 1.57% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Time Management
|
$137,700 |
70%
|
|
Pricing
|
$98,010 |
21%
|
|
Scheduling
|
$97,200 |
20%
|
|
CAD
|
$94,770 |
17%
|
|
InDesign
|
$94,770 |
17%
|
|
Initiative
|
$93,960 |
16%
|
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Specialist Interior Designers enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Specialist Interior Designer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $72,415 and $81,769).
Specialist Interior Designer Salaries by Degree Level
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| No Diploma | 2.1% |
| High School | 2.1% |
| Associates | 7.8% |
| Bachelors | 78.3% |
| Masters | 11.0% |
| Doctorate | 0.7% |
Understanding how a Specialist Interior Designer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Last Updated on January 01, 2026For a Specialist Interior Designer, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Expert/Principal Interior Designer role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $93,800 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.
Salaries for a Specialist Interior Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $102,283 in 2023 to around $101,879 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Specialist Interior Designer salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
View More
|
| 2023 | $102,283 |
| 2024 | $102,186 |
| 2025 | $101,879 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Specialist Interior Designer and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Specialist Interior Designer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Interior designers can earn competitive salaries, with a range from $64,100 to $101,500. Countries like Switzerland, Luxembourg, the USA, Denmark, and Norway are known for offering some of the best compensation in this field. The average salary sits around $79,300, making these locations attractive for skilled interior designers seeking higher earnings.
The highest paid interior designer roles typically include positions like Interior Design Director, with salaries ranging from $86,500 to $133,500 per year. For Specialist Interior Designers, the salary ranges from $64,100 to $101,500, with a mid-salary of $79,300, reflecting the expertise and demand in the field.
The highest paying job in the field of interior design is a Specialist Interior Designer, with a salary range from $64,100 to $101,500. The average salary is approximately $79,300, making it a lucrative career choice for those with the right skills and experience in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces.
Yes, interior designers can make $100,000. Based on current salary data, Specialist Interior Designers earn between $64,100 and $101,500 annually, with a median salary of $79,300. Those with extensive experience and a strong portfolio may exceed these figures, especially in high-demand markets.
The salary for a Specialist Interior Designer typically ranges from $64,100 to $101,500, with a median salary of $79,300. While CEO positions in interior design can command higher salaries, the average for specialists provides a solid benchmark for earnings in the field.
The average salary for a Specialist Interior Designer in America is approximately $79,300 per year. The top 10 percent earn over $101,500 annually, while the bottom 10 percent make around $64,100. This reflects a significant earning potential for experienced professionals in the field.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
