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Hourly Wage for Interior Designer I Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Interior Designer I?

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:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $30 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $23 to $28 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $20 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Interior Designer I Salaries

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.

How Experience Level Affects Interior Designer I Salaries?

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:

  • 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
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Interior Designer I0-2 years$53,827
Interior Designer II2-4 years$60,833
Interior Designer III4-7 years$70,063
Interior Designer IV7+ years$80,832
Interior Designer V7-10 years$93,639

Top Paying Cities for Interior Designer I

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $67,892
  • San Francisco: $67,149
  • Oakland: $65,734

What Skills Can Increase an Interior Designer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.76% Job Postings): 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 (Mentioned in 2.04% Job Postings): Analyzing, organizing, and building interior design layouts to maximize available space in accordance with client's specifications.
  • Business Model (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.76%
Space Planning 2.04%
Business Model 1.37%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

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.

  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Architectural Design: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communication Skills $59,748
11%
Architectural Design $57,057
6%
Consulting $56,518
5%

Interior Designer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

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.

Interior Designer I Salary by Company Size

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

Interior Designer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Interior Designer I roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Interior Designer positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Interior Designer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Interior Designer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$59,210$28.010%

How Education impacts an Interior Designer I's Salary?

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.

Interior Designer I Salaries by Degree Level

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%

Interior Designer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$47,609
Average $53,827/year
$58,550
$3,967
Average $4,486/month
$4,879
$916
Average $1,035/week
$1,126
$23
Average $26/hour
$28
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

Most common benefits for Interior Designer I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Interior Designer I

Here are companies hiring for Interior Designer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Interior Designer I

1. What are the responsibilities of Interior Designer I?

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.

2. What are the skills of Interior Designer I

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.

1.)

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.

2.)

Space Planning: Analyzing, organizing, and building interior design layouts to maximize available space in accordance with client's specifications.

3.)

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.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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