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.
- O*NET-SOC code
27-1025.00 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$67,190
Employment, U.S.71,500
Median hourly wage$32.31
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41,420 | $51,840 | $67,190 | $85,740 | $114,140 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 620 | $61,050 | 0.64 |
| Alaska | 40 | $63,320 | 0.27 |
| Arizona | 1,600 | $61,460 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | 740 | $69,990 | 1.24 |
| California | 8,500 | $80,230 | 1.02 |
| Colorado | 2,300 | $78,390 | 1.74 |
| Connecticut | 630 | $67,330 | 0.80 |
| Delaware | 190 | $60,360 | 0.84 |
| District of Columbia | 620 | $98,450 | 1.92 |
| Florida | 7,410 | $60,860 | 1.62 |
| Georgia | 3,050 | $71,760 | 1.36 |
| Hawaii | 270 | $63,780 | 0.95 |
| Idaho | 350 | Not available | 0.88 |
| Illinois | 2,570 | $76,290 | 0.92 |
| Indiana | 1,020 | $62,580 | 0.69 |
| Iowa | 510 | $58,040 | 0.72 |
| Kansas | 400 | $61,090 | 0.61 |
| Kentucky | 490 | $59,240 | 0.54 |
| Louisiana | 350 | $60,610 | 0.40 |
| Maine | 230 | $63,830 | 0.78 |
| Maryland | 1,440 | $65,070 | 1.13 |
| Massachusetts | 1,580 | $80,110 | 0.95 |
| Michigan | 1,930 | $59,340 | 0.95 |
| Minnesota | 1,220 | $73,270 | 0.90 |
| Mississippi | 330 | $43,740 | 0.62 |
| Missouri | 1,010 | $59,610 | 0.74 |
| Montana | 290 | $61,770 | 1.24 |
| Nebraska | 430 | $64,870 | 0.91 |
| Nevada | 590 | Not available | 0.83 |
| New Hampshire | 300 | $64,140 | 0.95 |
| New Jersey | 1,670 | $74,020 | 0.85 |
| New Mexico | 90 | $60,850 | 0.23 |
| New York | 5,340 | $75,580 | 1.20 |
| North Carolina | 2,610 | $61,400 | 1.15 |
| North Dakota | 160 | $59,190 | 0.79 |
| Ohio | 2,180 | $61,410 | 0.86 |
| Oklahoma | 490 | $68,520 | 0.62 |
| Oregon | 1,030 | $66,350 | 1.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,820 | $62,400 | 0.65 |
| Rhode Island | 550 | $58,100 | 2.37 |
| South Carolina | 940 | $63,790 | 0.89 |
| South Dakota | 150 | $65,220 | 0.72 |
| Tennessee | 1,530 | $63,660 | 1.01 |
| Texas | 6,450 | $65,160 | 1.00 |
| Utah | 1,110 | $61,740 | 1.39 |
| Vermont | 110 | $63,870 | 0.76 |
| Virginia | 1,550 | $62,560 | 0.82 |
| Washington | 1,330 | $76,570 | 0.81 |
| West Virginia | 90 | $49,800 | 0.28 |
| Wisconsin | 1,200 | $62,740 | 0.89 |
| Wyoming | 90 | $96,100 | 0.72 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 5 | 0.951 |
| 2 | Landscape Architects | 4 | 0.948 |
| 3 | Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors | 3 | 0.945 |
| 4 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 3 | 0.937 |
| 5 | Art Directors | 4 | 0.935 |
| 6 | Graphic Designers | 4 | 0.934 |
| 7 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5 | 0.934 |
| 8 | Construction Managers | 4 | 0.928 |
| 9 | Wind Energy Development Managers | 4 | 0.927 |
| 10 | Information Technology Project Managers | 4 | 0.923 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Interior Designers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Directors | Active Learning | 0.76 | 0.935 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | Quality Control Analysis | 1.24 | 0.914 |
| Security Management Specialists | Monitoring | 0.76 | 0.912 |
| Administrative Services Managers | Time Management | 1.00 | 0.909 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | Learning Strategies | 0.87 | 0.908 |
| Fundraisers | Persuasion | 0.76 | 0.901 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Interior Designers, excluding software Interior Designers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D | 7 of 20 | 10.8x |
| Quark enterprise publishing software | 4 of 20 | 30.8x |
| Hypertext markup language HTML | 8 of 20 | 4.7x |
| WordPress | 5 of 20 | 11.0x |
| JavaScript | 8 of 20 | 4.4x |
| Drupal | 6 of 20 | 7.1x |
| Google Analytics | 6 of 20 | 6.9x |
| Extensible markup language XML | 8 of 20 | 4.2x |
| AEC Software FastTrack Schedule | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Adobe After Effects | 6 of 20 | 6.8x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 4.88 | 6.24 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.48 | 5.40 |
| Building and Construction | 4.24 | 4.68 |
| English Language | 4.12 | 4.80 |
| Sales and Marketing | 3.76 | 4.80 |
| Administration and Management | 3.64 | 4.16 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.52 | 4.56 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.40 | 3.64 |
| Fine Arts | 3.30 | 4.00 |
| Administrative | 3.12 | 4.48 |
| Psychology | 3.08 | 3.60 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 3.00 | 3.64 |
| Mathematics | 2.96 | 3.43 |
| Production and Processing | 2.92 | 3.28 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.72 | 3.16 |
| Communications and Media | 2.57 | 2.79 |
| Mechanical | 2.52 | 2.44 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.46 | 2.84 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2.44 | 3.00 |
| Education and Training | 2.43 | 3.08 |
| Law and Government | 2.32 | 2.52 |
| Telecommunications | 2.04 | 1.44 |
| History and Archeology | 1.96 | 2.08 |
| Geography | 1.80 | 1.76 |
| Transportation | 1.72 | 1.76 |
| Physics | 1.72 | 1.40 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.70 | 1.83 |
| Foreign Language | 1.56 | 1.08 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.54 | 1.52 |
| Chemistry | 1.44 | 1.12 |
| Biology | 1.44 | 0.88 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.36 | 0.72 |
| Food Production | 1.16 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Fluency of Ideas | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Originality | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Near Vision | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Visualization | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Written Expression | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.62 | 3.75 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.38 | 3.88 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Far Vision | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Selective Attention | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Time Sharing | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.25 | 2.62 |
| Memorization | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Finger Dexterity | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Control Precision | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.25 | not rated |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Manual Dexterity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.00 | not rated |
| Reaction Time | 1.00 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
| Stamina | 1.00 | not rated |
| Static Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Adobe Creative Cloud software in demand
- Adobe Illustrator in demand
- Adobe InDesign in demand
- Adobe Photoshop in demand
- Autodesk AutoCAD in demand
- Autodesk Revit in demand
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Trimble SketchUp Pro in demand
- Chaos Enscape in demand
- Adobe Acrobat hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Project hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- 20-20 Technologies 20-20 Design
- AutoDesSys form Z
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Autodesk Architectural Desktop
- Autodesk Revit Architecture
- Autodesk VIZ
- Computer aided design and drafting software CADD
- Email software
- Graphisoft ArchiCAD
- IBM Notes
- Maxon Cinema 4D
- McNeel Rhinoceros 3D
- Vectorworks Designer
- Web browser software
- iPhotoMEASURE
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 400 | 4.96 | $75,210 |
| Bozeman, MT | 130 | 3.79 | $61,710 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,090 | 2.39 | $60,860 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 370 | 2.37 | $58,270 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,500 | 2.03 | $80,150 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,090 | 1.84 | $78,390 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,430 | 1.83 | $72,490 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 590 | 1.80 | $58,100 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 100 | 1.75 | $67,230 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 880 | 1.74 | $69,770 |