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Arts, Design, Media, and Sports

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Interior Designers
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Median pay

$63,490
Median annual pay for Interior Designers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

3.2%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

7,800
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

87,100
Estimated U.S. employment for Interior Designers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+2,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Interior Designers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Speaking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Design
  2. 2Customer and Personal Service
  3. 3Building and Construction
  4. 4English Language
  5. 5Sales and Marketing
  6. 6Administration and Management

Abilities

  1. 1Fluency of Ideas
  2. 2Originality
  3. 3Near Vision
  4. 4Oral Comprehension
  5. 5Oral Expression
  6. 6Visualization

Career interests

  1. 1Artistic
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Conventional
  4. 4Enterprising
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Social

Work styles

  1. 1Attention to Detail
  2. 2Innovation
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Cooperation
  5. 5Adaptability
  6. 6Self-Confidence

Work activities

  1. 1Thinking Creatively
  2. 2Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  3. 3Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  4. 4Getting Information
  5. 5Working with Computers
  6. 6Communicating with People Outside the Organization

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative tasks

  • Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
  • Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
  • Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
  • Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
  • Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
  • Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
  • Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.

Software and tools

Autodesk AutoCAD · in demandAdobe Creative Cloud software · in demandAdobe Illustrator · in demandAdobe InDesign · in demandAdobe Photoshop · in demandTrimble SketchUp Pro · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandAutodesk Revit · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandChaos Enscape · in demandAdobe Acrobat · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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