Occupation · SOC 27-1025
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.
Median wage
$63,490
$38,480–$106,090
Projected growth
+3.2%
Average growth
Annual openings
280
per year
Employed (US)
69,580
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
167 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCoordinationService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
DesignCustomer and Personal ServiceBuilding and ConstructionEnglish LanguageSales and Marketing
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareDocument management softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareDesktop publishing softwareVideo creation and editing software
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.Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art work, and accessories.Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.Research and explore the use of new materials, technologies, and products to incorporate into designs.Design spaces to be environmentally friendly, using sustainable, recycled materials when feasible.Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
CAD software basics — produce simple floor plan drawings under direct supervision in a studio or firm setting.ADA compliance requirements — identify and apply fundamental accessibility standards to entry-level residential or commercial design layouts.Health and safety code research — locate and summarize applicable building codes using firm reference materials with guidance from a senior designer.Client intake information — gather data on budget, architectural preferences, and functional needs during structured client meetings with supervisor support.Space planning fundamentals — apply standard furniture layout principles to small interior environments under direct mentorship.Construction documents — review and interpret shop drawings and basic construction details with direction from a licensed interior designer.Color coordination principles — select and present limited color palettes using established firm standards for residential or light commercial projects.Professional coordination — communicate routine project updates to contractors or tradespeople using firm-approved email and project management software.Site observation — accompany senior designers on construction site visits and document observed conditions against approved design plans.Presentation software tools — assemble basic design concept boards and client presentations using desktop publishing and graphics software under supervision.
developing
CAD construction documents — draft and revise full sets of construction drawings with reduced oversight for mid-scale commercial or residential interiors projects.ADA and safety compliance — integrate accessibility and health and safety code requirements independently into design plans for standard project types.Client consultation — lead structured client meetings to determine space planning needs, functional goals, and budget parameters for routine project scopes.Design advisory service — advise clients on layout, furnishing selection, equipment placement, and color coordination with confidence across familiar project categories.Multi-discipline coordination — coordinate routine design decisions with architects, engineers, and contractors using project management software to keep work on schedule.Shop drawing review — review and mark up contractor shop drawings against approved construction documents, escalating discrepancies to senior staff as needed.Code research and application — independently research local jurisdiction health, safety, and building code requirements and apply findings to active project documentation.Site inspection — conduct periodic construction site visits, assess work-in-progress against design intent, and prepare written inspection reports for project records.Spreadsheet and budget tracking — monitor project budgets and procurement schedules using spreadsheet software, flagging variances to project leads.Written project communication — compose clear specification narratives, meeting minutes, and client correspondence using professional writing standards.
proficient
Full-scope construction documentation — autonomously produce and quality-control complete CAD drawing packages for complex commercial, hospitality, or institutional interiors.Complex ADA and regulatory compliance — navigate overlapping federal, state, and local codes to produce design solutions that are safe, compliant, and aesthetically resolved.Advanced client engagement — lead multi-session discovery and design development processes with diverse clients, reconciling competing priorities through active listening and persuasion.Integrated space planning — develop comprehensive space plans and programming documents for large or multi-phase projects, resolving non-routine functional and circulation challenges.Cross-professional project leadership — independently coordinate interior design scope with architects, structural engineers, MEP consultants, and general contractors throughout all project phases.Design problem solving — apply critical thinking and originality to resolve complex design constraints, including budget overruns, site conditions, and late-stage client changes.Shop drawing and submittal management — manage the full submittal review cycle, maintaining logs and ensuring contractor compliance with design intent across all finish and furniture packages.Construction administration — lead site observation visits, issue field directives, and verify final installations meet approved drawings and specifications without senior oversight.Technology integration — leverage CAD, graphics, video creation, and presentation software strategically to communicate complex design concepts persuasively to clients and stakeholders.Time and project management — independently manage multiple concurrent project timelines, negotiating deadlines with clients and vendors to deliver on schedule and within scope.
advanced
Firm-wide design standards — establish and enforce CAD, documentation, and specification protocols that elevate quality and consistency across all projects in the organization.Regulatory strategy leadership — guide the firm's approach to evolving ADA, safety, and sustainability code compliance, embedding best practices into studio-wide workflows.Client relationship stewardship — cultivate long-term client partnerships at the executive and ownership level, translating high-level organizational goals into transformative interior environments.Design vision and innovation — set the creative direction for signature projects, modeling originality and fluency of ideas that differentiate the firm in competitive markets.Organizational coordination leadership — lead multi-firm project teams spanning architecture, engineering, and construction disciplines, resolving high-stakes conflicts and driving integrated delivery.Mentorship and talent development — coach emerging and developing designers through structured feedback, project assignment, and formal training programs within the firm.Business development and persuasion — lead proposals, presentations, and negotiations with prospective clients and developer partners to secure major contracts for the firm.Operational and financial oversight — oversee project portfolio budgets, resource allocation, and profitability metrics using operations analysis and management judgment at a studio or firm scale.Industry and knowledge leadership — contribute to professional associations, publish thought leadership, and represent the firm at industry forums to advance interior design practice standards.Strategic technology adoption — evaluate, select, and champion new design and project management technologies, directing firm-wide implementation to improve efficiency and client outcomes.
Also known as
37 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Kitchen and Bathroom Designer (Kitchen and Bath Designer)Project DesignerColor ExpertInterior DecoratorServices Craftsman (Air Force 3F171)Services Apprentice (Air Force 3F131)Interior Design ConsultantServices Journeyman (Air Force 3F151)Home DesignerDesignerServices Superintendent (Air Force 3F191)Interior Design CoordinatorRoom DesignerKitchen and Batch DesignerBathroom Designer (Bath Designer)Design ConsultantServices Helper (Air Force 3F111)Home DecoratorDecorating ConsultantFurniture ArrangerCertified Kitchen DesignerKitchen Cabinet DesignerCommercial Interior DesignerInterior DesignerColor and Materials DesignerServices Manager (Air Force 3F100)Lighting DesignerProject Interior DesignerHome Lighting AdvisorServices (Air Force 3F1X1)Kitchen DesignerRegistered Interior DesignerResidential DesignerHouse DesignerResidential Interior DesignerStylistDecorator