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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Before negotiating salary, check what the market actually pays — city by city. The national median salary for Interior Designers in 2026 is $71,942, with entry-level positions averaging $43,165 and senior roles reaching $106,474. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $131,440, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Interior Designer falls within the Creative & Media sector, specifically in Arts & Media. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in design. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$79,980 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Interior Designer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $131,440 — $79,980 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($51,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Interior Designers average $43,165, the median sits at $71,942, and senior earners pull in $106,474. That $63,309 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $8,425 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $122,760 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $51,873. That $70,887 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Interior Designer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $131,440 — $79,980 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($51,460). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Interior Designer is $43,165, while senior-level (P90) earners average $106,474. That $63,309 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $43,165 | $71,942 | $106,474 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £27,938 | £38,803 | £55,100 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$40,965 | CA$56,896 | CA$80,793 |
| Australia | 13 | A$45,778 | A$63,580 | A$90,283 |
| Sweden | 24 | 285,436 kr | 396,439 kr | 562,944 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $52,257 | $87,095 | $128,900 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $50,499 | $84,165 | $124,564 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $50,220 | $83,700 | $123,876 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $46,500 | $77,500 | $114,700 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $45,942 | $76,570 | $113,324 |
| Washington | 8 | $45,059 | $75,098 | $111,144 |
| New York | 5 | $42,408 | $70,680 | $104,607 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $42,408 | $70,680 | $104,606 |
| Florida | 22 | $42,087 | $70,145 | $103,814 |
| Colorado | 11 | $41,360 | $68,933 | $102,020 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $41,292 | $68,820 | $101,854 |
| Nevada | 5 | $41,218 | $68,696 | $101,670 |
| Arizona | 12 | $41,013 | $68,355 | $101,165 |
| Oregon | 5 | $40,920 | $68,200 | $100,936 |
| Idaho | 3 | $40,796 | $67,993 | $100,630 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $40,474 | $67,456 | $99,835 |
| Utah | 4 | $40,362 | $67,270 | $99,560 |
| Virginia | 7 | $39,698 | $66,163 | $97,921 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $39,184 | $65,307 | $96,654 |
| Alaska | 1 | $39,060 | $65,100 | $96,348 |
| Illinois | 5 | $38,614 | $64,356 | $95,247 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $37,655 | $62,758 | $92,881 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $37,200 | $62,000 | $91,760 |
| Montana | 1 | $37,200 | $62,000 | $91,760 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $37,076 | $61,793 | $91,454 |
| Texas | 40 | $36,893 | $61,489 | $91,003 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $36,828 | $61,380 | $90,843 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $36,642 | $61,070 | $90,384 |
| Georgia | 6 | $36,518 | $60,863 | $90,078 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $36,456 | $60,760 | $89,925 |
| Kansas | 4 | $36,270 | $60,450 | $89,466 |
| Michigan | 6 | $36,146 | $60,243 | $89,160 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $35,712 | $59,520 | $88,090 |
| Maryland | 1 | $35,712 | $59,520 | $88,090 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $35,340 | $58,900 | $87,172 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $35,340 | $58,900 | $87,172 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $34,410 | $57,350 | $84,878 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $34,224 | $57,040 | $84,419 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $33,759 | $56,265 | $83,272 |
| Missouri | 4 | $33,759 | $56,265 | $83,272 |
| Alabama | 5 | $33,629 | $56,048 | $82,951 |
| Indiana | 3 | $33,108 | $55,180 | $81,666 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $33,108 | $55,180 | $81,666 |
| Iowa | 2 | $32,736 | $54,560 | $80,749 |
| Ohio | 6 | $32,674 | $54,457 | $80,596 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $31,248 | $52,080 | $77,078 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Interior Designer median of $87,095 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($84,165) and Hawaii ($83,700). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $52,080 and $54,560. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($131,440 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $62,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $131,440 | 212 | $62,000 | $79,315 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $122,760 | 198 | $62,000 | $74,537 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $114,080 | 184 | $62,000 | $69,759 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $112,220 | 181 | $62,000 | $68,735 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $110,360 | 178 | $62,000 | $67,711 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $109,740 | 177 | $62,000 | $67,369 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $109,740 | 177 | $62,000 | $67,369 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $107,260 | 173 | $62,000 | $66,004 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $107,260 | 173 | $62,000 | $66,004 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $104,780 | 169 | $62,000 | $64,639 |
From a career planning perspective, Interior Designer offers a $63,309 earning range. The 2.5× multiplier from entry to senior makes this a field where longevity pays off. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in design. Day-to-day, expect hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Interior Designers is $71,942 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $43,165, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $106,474.
The highest-paying city for Interior Designers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $131,440. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($131,440), Santa Clara ($122,760), Irvine ($114,080). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Interior Designer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $51,460. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Interior Designers (10th percentile) average $43,165 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $78,864. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Interior Designers average $106,474 nationally — $63,309 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Interior Designers can earn up to $194,531.
The top-paying states for Interior Designers are California ($87,095 median), Massachusetts ($84,165 median), Hawaii ($83,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Interior Designer involves Bachelor's in design. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $71,942 and representation across 288 metro areas, Interior Designer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $63,309 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.