Before discussing interior design remuneration in more detail, I would to make a distinction between the interior designer’s and the interior decorator’s career. Many people think the two careers are one and the same thing but this is not true. An interior designer has a wider range of skills compared to the interior decorator. For this reason, the salaries are higher than interior decorator salaries. A designer combines engineering with art while a decorator simply deals with aesthetics.
As with any other career, salaries are influenced by various factors. First, interior design wages vary depending on the geographical area. Different locations have varying costs of living and demand for interior designers. Remuneration in larger cities are expected to be higher than that in much smaller towns.
The salaries are also dependent on the level of the job. Qualifications and credentials play a large part in design wages and ROI (return of investment). Most entry level jobs in the US will pay an average annual salary of anything in the range of $22 000 and $40 000.
Interior design salaries also vary depending on the area of specialization. One can specialize in various interesting areas. A good example is specializing either in residential design or commercial design. Salaries for designers whose training allows them to work with architectural firms or engineering service firms are higher than in any other sector.
The experience of designers also influences interior design salaries. Highly qualified and experienced interior designers have the opportunity to earn salaries in the six figure range.
Interior design salaries are dependent on the nature of employment of the designer. If you are employed by a well established architectural firm, you can earn anything near $40 000. If you seek employment in a little known company you can be almost sure of earning a lesser amount.
Interior design salaries for self employed designers are dependent on how they charge their fees. Many self employed interior designers charge per hour fees for consultation. Although salaries for these self starters varies greatly, the average salary is $51 000. This means that most self employed designers earn higher interior design salaries than their counterparts. Salaries for self employed designers can be as high as $100 000 per year.
If you are planning to pursue a career in that field you are probably happy to note the high salaries even for entry level employees. This field not only offers you job satisfaction but also a chance to make your pockets deeper. If you are considering a career move you might want to try interior design.