Interior Design Salary and Career Information
Do you have a flair for the artistic, attention to detail and a flair for organization? If so, you might make a perfect interior designer. Interior designers integrate many different aspects together to create rooms that are ideal in every way. They are different from interior decorators because they often have more education, more training and more credentials. Interior decorators consider every imaginable element of a room, including dimension, size, shape, color, texture and so much more. Interior designing can be glamorous at times, and it can be a lot of hard work. The average interior design salary can be anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per year to start.
Of course, what your salary will be may depend on where you are. Designers in big cities will make more because not only does everything cost more, there are more clients in need of a professional designer. If you live in a small town you might unfortunately find that there is not a large demand for professional design services. This is why the vast majority of successful designers and design firms are located in metropolitan areas.
How much you’ll make also depends on your experience. An experienced designer with a large portfolio can make $100,000 per year or more. And of course, they can make less as well. Your pay might also depend on whether or not you are self employed or work for a firm. A firm is an organization which employs multiple designers, just like a law firm employs multiple lawyers.
If you think that a career in interior design is right for you, the first thing you will need to do is get an education. You can attend a design school, or take the appropriate classes at a college or university. In many areas you will need a license, which can be obtained after an appropriate period of internship with an experienced designer. Internships don’t usually pay anything, and if they do the pay is small. However, the experience you gain and the opportunities you may receive are well worth the lack of pay.
To learn more about the average interior design salary in your area, consider taking an introductory course. This way you can learn the basics of the business before you make a long-term commitment. You can also inquire with designers in your area. Some will be more than happy to offer information about their job, others may not. While the pay might vary, there’s no doubt that a career in interior design can be a fun, creative way to earn a living!
