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Interior Design Intern Salary in the United States

How much does an Interior Design Intern make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Interior Design Intern in the United States is $52,061 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $25.

However, an Interior Design Intern's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $61,276
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $45,435 to $56,885
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,403
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Interior Design Intern Salaries

An Interior Design Intern'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 Design Intern Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Interior Design Intern'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $53,442
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $60,395
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,560
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $80,244
  • Expert (over 8 years): $92,956
Levels Salary
Interior ... Level Interior Design Intern$53,442
Interior ... Level Interior Design Intern$60,395
Interior ... Level Interior Design Intern$69,560
Interior ... Level Interior Design Intern$80,244
Interior ... Level Interior Design Intern$92,956
View as Graph

How Do Interior Design Intern Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Interior Design Interns. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $57,642.
  • California: $57,424.
  • Massachusetts: $56,658.

Top Paying Cities for Interior Design Interns

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: $65,665
  • San Francisco: $64,946
  • Oakland: $63,577

What Skills Can Increase an Interior Design Intern'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%
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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 Design Intern'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 $57,788
11%
Architectural Design $55,185
6%
Consulting $54,664
5%
Get Latest Data

Interior Design Intern Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Interior Design Intern 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 Design Intern positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Interior Design Intern as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Interior Design Intern

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$57,268$28.010%

How Education impacts an Interior Design Intern's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Interior Design Interns 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 an Interior Design Intern with a Bachelor's Degree is between $47,685 and $53,093).

Interior Design Intern Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Interior Design Intern
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%
View as Graph

Interior Design Intern Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Interior Design Intern'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 September 01, 2026
$45,435
Average $52,061/year
$56,885
$3,786
Average $4,338/month
$4,740
$874
Average $1,001/week
$1,094
$22
Average $25/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,885 $4,740 $1,094 $27
Average $52,061 $4,338 $1,001 $25
25th Percentile $45,435 $3,786 $874 $22

Most common benefits for Interior Design Intern

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

Common company salaries for Interior Design Intern

Here are companies hiring for Interior Design Intern and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Interior Design Intern

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Interior Design Intern?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Interior Design Intern roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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.

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