As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Interior Designer I in the United States is $26, which translates to an annual salary of about $53,827.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Interior Designer I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $58,550 | $4,879 | $1,126 | $28 |
| Average | $53,827 | $4,486 | $1,035 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,609 | $3,967 | $916 | $23 |
An Interior Designer I'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 an Interior Designer I'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Interior Designer I | 0-2 years | $53,827 |
| Interior Designer II | 2-4 years | $60,833 |
| Interior Designer III | 4-7 years | $70,063 |
| Interior Designer IV | 7+ years | $80,832 |
| Interior Designer V | 7-10 years | $93,639 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Presentation | 5.76% |
| Space Planning | 2.04% |
| Business Model | 1.37% |
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Interior Designer I's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Skills | $59,748 | |
| Architectural Design | $57,057 | |
| Consulting | $56,518 |
Interior Designer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $58,200. While startup companies pay approximate $49,218.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $49,218 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $52,060 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $56,199 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $58,200 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Interior Designer I enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Interior Designer I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $47,685 and $53,093.
| Typical Education for Interior Designer I | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 0.4% |
| High School | 4.2% |
| Associates | 11.8% |
| Bachelors | 75.6% |
| Masters | 8.0% |
| Doctorate | 0.1% |
Understanding how an Interior Designer I'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $58,550 | $4,879 | $1,126 | $28 |
| Average | $53,827 | $4,486 | $1,035 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,609 | $3,967 | $916 | $23 |
Salaries for an Interior Designer I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,204 in 2023 to around $53,466 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Interior Designer I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $54,204 |
| 2024 | $54,038 |
| 2025 | $53,466 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
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Develops plans and designs for the interior of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings based on the needs of the client. Creates functional and aesthetic designs that help boost productivity, increase sales, attract customers, or enhance a living space. Responsible for planning the use and layout of the space and decorating with color, furniture, fixtures, etc. Develops drawings, presentations, and cost estimates and coordinates the work of contractors. Requires a bachelor's degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Presentation: Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
Space Planning: Analyzing, organizing, and building interior design layouts to maximize available space in accordance with client's specifications.
Business Model: The term business model refers to a company's plan for making a profit. It identifies the products or services the business plans to sell, its identified target market, and any anticipated expenses.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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