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10 Interior Design Careers With Salary and Job Descriptions

By Indeed Editorial Team

Published August 18, 2021

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Interior design careers focus on the renovation of inside spaces. Professionals in these fields are often highly creative with strong attention to detail and a willingness to collaborate with others. If you possess these qualities and are interested in the design or construction of interior spaces, it may be helpful for you to explore career opportunities in this field. In this article, we discuss interior design careers, including what they are, some of their general requirements and 10 careers you might want to consider.

What are interior design careers?

Interior design careers are jobs that involve the creation, renovation and decoration of spaces. These professionals often specialize in certain areas, which can change whether they work in homes or corporate settings. Interior design professionals can work for companies on a full-time basis as internal employees or on a contract basis, depending on the professionals’ preferences. While professionals in these careers generally focus on the same areas, interior design careers can offer varying levels of employment that involve creative and technical skills.

In addition to specializing in either corporate or residential spaces, some professionals in interior design careers may prioritize different objectives in their work. For example, an interior designer may specialize in making universal spaces, meaning that they’re accessible to all. An interior designer might also specialize in sustainability, where they consider environment-friendly methods to complete their work.

Related: Interior Architecture vs. Interior Design: What’s the Difference?

10 Interior design careers

Here is a list of 10 careers related to interior design to consider:

National average salary: $34,339 per year

Primary duties: A blogger is a professional who shares videos, pictures and written content about a particular subject. Professionals who are interested in interior design may start working as a blogger to share their work and ideas. The primary duties for this role can depend on the subject matter the professionals decide to focus on. Interior design bloggers may research design trends and share opinions, give instructions for interior projects or explain concepts of interior design. Bloggers often need to collaborate with companies to earn revenue through advertising.

National average salary: $37,006 per year

Primary duties: An interior design assistant provides administrative support to interior designers. Their primary duties can include filing client information, handling communication with vendors and clients, ordering supplies, answering phone calls, organization meetings and assisting with the management of project budgets. This is often an entry-level position for professionals to work in order to gain experience to become an interior designer.

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National average salary: $50,704 per year

Primary duties: An interior decorator is a professional who specializes in furnishing and designing the aesthetics of a room. Their primary duties can include choosing color schemes, commissioning and framing wall art and finding other decorations and accessories for a room. These professionals also are responsible for planning the room’s layout and arranging furniture to reach their client’s vision.

National average salary: $56,446 per year

Primary duties: Kitchen and bath designers are responsible for creating arrangements for bathrooms and kitchens. Their primary duties include choosing cabinets, sinks and appliances for these rooms. Kitchen and bath designers also consider plumbing and client requests as they plan the layout of these rooms. Some of these professionals are able to install the furniture and appliances related to these rooms themselves, while others outsource labor to contract employees.

National average salary: $56,766 per year

Primary duties: Interior designers create safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing rooms for buildings of many functions. Most interior designers have a specific specialty, such as residential, sustainable and corporate design, that can change their primary duties. Generally, interior designers draw and modify blueprints, research design trends and building regulations, create presentations for clients and manage project budgets.

Read more: Learn About Being an Interior Designer

National average salary: $57,906 per year

Primary duties: Technical designers work with clients and other professionals to turn creative ideas into actual products. Their primary duties may include developing manufacturing plans, creating design plans and inspecting products for quality. Technical designers may also research market trends to ensure there is a demand for the products they create.

National average salary: $68,423 per year

Primary duties: Similar to a technical designer, industrial designers are responsible for making plans for the mass manufacturing of a product. Their primary duties can include communication with clients, creating a product design, managing project budgets, overseeing the manufacturing of a product and troubleshooting design issues during production. Industrial designers also research manufacturing regulations and create schedules for the item’s production.

National average salary: $74,949 per year

Primary duties: Project managers are professionals responsible for planning for and overseeing the daily operations of a project. Project managers working in interior design companies may communicate with clients and hire contractors to complete a design project. These professionals are also responsible for ensuring that the project meets the client’s objectives, budget and deadlines.

Read more: Learn About Being a Project Manager

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National average salary: $79,047 per year

Primary duties: Senior interior designers are upper-level professionals who work closely with the project manager to lead design projects. Their primary duties can include developing technical aspects of a project, oversee project coordination and presentations and managing project deadlines. Senior interior designers collaborate with many other professionals, such as the project manager, other interior designers and contractors.

National average salary: $81,378 per year

Primary duties: Executive directors for interior design companies are senior-level professionals. They’re responsible for their organization’s product design policies, objectives and budget. Executive directors lead other upper-level management professionals and may work closely with the organization’s shareholders.

National average salary: $100,623 per year

Primary duties: Architects create plans for the design of all types of buildings, including homes and corporate offices. Their primary duties generally include meeting with clients, designing and modifying blueprints, estimating project costs and researching building regulations. Architects also may visit construction sites to ensure that the contractors follow their design plans.

Skills and requirements for interior design careers

Though the skills and requirements for interior design careers can depend on the specific position and employer, interior design professionals generally have the following:

Bachelor’s degree

Most interior design professionals earn a bachelor’s degree in a subject related to their desired position. Some professionals, such as architects may need to obtain a special license to ensure they understand building regulations while others, such as an executive director, may need to earn at least a master’s degree. Interior design professionals who work on a contract basis, such as bloggers or consultants, may be able to start their careers without a bachelor’s degree if they have the right experience.

Read more: How To Become an Interior Designer Without a Degree

Creativity

Though it can be a highly technical field, working in the interior design industry often requires professionals to have strong creative skills. This allows them to create unique designs and cater to the ideas of their clients. These professionals also may use their creative skills to choose color schemes, furniture and lighting and appliance options.

Communication skills

Because interior design employees often collaborate with other professionals and have frequent meetings with clients, they need strong communication skills. These skills allow them to understand their clients’ needs and express their ideas. Individuals working in interior design careers may also use these skills to explain industry jargon to clients and contract employees who are unfamiliar with the terms.

Certifications and licenses

While some interior design positions don’t require a specific certification or license, a professional may need one depending on their area of expertise. For example, some interior design professionals need a certification to allow them to work in corporate buildings unsupervised. For positions that require more expertise on building codes and safety regulations, such as an architect, professionals may need a license or certification to ensure they have up-to-date knowledge.

Industry knowledge

These professionals need industry knowledge in order to follow building regulations and create designs that adhere to aesthetic principles. This knowledge can include color theories, details about furniture and appliances, the marketability for a product and lighting principles. Knowing this information helps professionals complete their job duties, express their ideas and make expert recommendations for professionals outside of their field.