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What is an interior designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Darcy
introduction image

An interior designer specializes in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces for clients. They work on residential and commercial projects, selecting furniture, lighting, colors, and materials that suit the client's needs and preferences. An interior designer also considers the layout of a space, ensuring that it is efficient and meets building codes. They may work with architects, contractors, and other professionals to create a space that meets the client's needs.

What general advice would you give to an Interior Designer?

Bill DarcyBill Darcy LinkedIn profile

CEO, National Kitchen & Bath Association

This year has thrown curveballs at us like never before, and the job market is just one of the areas that has been upended," said Bill Darcy, NKBA CEO. "One thing the pandemic has proven is that our homes are multitasking more than ever - like home office, home school, gym, spa - and our kitchens are getting quite a workout, as the family's central hub and gathering space. People are anxious to remodel, so they may customize their spaces to accommodate these new needs. This is one sector where business is robust, and many of our NKBA designer and remodeler members can't keep up with the volume of work. So, entering the workforce in a design or remodeling capacity holds a great deal of promise. Work and jobs are plentiful - and our research shows that design, construction and remodeling activity is likely to continue well into next year and beyond. Of course, no one can predict the course the pandemic might take or other factors might affect the economy, but I would suggest that this is an excellent time to explore internships and apprenticeships in the skilled trades, because these professional pathways, as well as kitchen, bath and interior design, are likely to yield solid opportunities for the foreseeable future.
ScoreInterior DesignerUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,482

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.14%

Asian 4.57%

Black or African American 1.48%

Hispanic or Latino 7.59%

Unknown 4.08%

White 82.14%

Gender

female 79.03%

male 20.97%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an interior designer?

Pros

  • Ability to work with a variety of clients and projects

  • Potential for high earnings and job stability

  • Chance to work in a constantly evolving industry

  • Opportunities for travel and exploring different design styles and cultures

  • Ability to express personal creativity and vision through designs

Cons

  • High competition for jobs and clients in the industry

  • Need to constantly keep up with the latest design trends and technology

  • Dealing with difficult clients or conflicting design preferences

  • Difficulty balancing multiple projects simultaneously

  • May require significant amounts of travel or relocation for certain jobs or clients

Interior Designer career paths

Key steps to become an interior designer

  1. Explore interior designer education requirements

    Most common interior designer degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.4 %

    Associate

    18.0 %

    Master's

    5.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific interior designer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Revit11.61%
    Space Planning7.87%
    Sketch6.42%
    Design Concepts6.16%
    Customer Service5.80%
  3. Complete relevant interior designer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New interior designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an interior designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real interior designer resumes.
  4. Research interior designer duties and responsibilities

    • Establish and manage firm's account on NYC DOB website; fulfill office duties and manage office.
    • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
    • Project management, interior design, transition planning, and furniture specification for military healthcare projects.
    • Participate on leer certified projects.
  5. Prepare your interior designer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your interior designer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an interior designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable interior designer resume templates

    Build a professional interior designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your interior designer resume.
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  6. Apply for interior designer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an interior designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first interior designer job

Zippi

Are you an interior designer?

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Average interior designer salary

The average interior designer salary in the United States is $52,482 per year or $25 per hour. Interior designer salaries range between $35,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average Interior Designer Salary
$52,482 Yearly
$25.23 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do interior designers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Interior Designer reviews

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5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Each project has its own set of requirements to suite the owner’s style and needs.

Cons

Marketing our services to attract new clientele.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

It is something I enjoy! Something I’m good at! Something I could do as hobby and get paid for

Cons

That I don’t get to do it more often


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Its Unique to Be a Museum Designer after designing many Houses, Restaurants, Offices, Showrooms since 1999. Being Co-Convener of INTACH (Indian National Trust For Art & Culture Heritage)


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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