What Is an Interior Designer’s Salary?
Interior design is a career that requires not only creativity but also business knowledge. In a career path like interior design, there are many different factors to consider that will affect salaries such as level of experience, location, education, speciality, and job availability.
In General, How Much Do Interior Designers Make?
The most updated information provided by Indeed states that interior designers across the UK receive a median pay of £37,264 per year, or £13.13 per hour. The least experienced earn approximately £21,020, and the most experienced earn more than £37,000 (Payscale). However, the earning potential for interior design business owners is quite lucrative, as London-based careers in Interior Design can net you up to £41,811 per year.
Interior Design Salary by Experience Level
According to Payscale, you can see how the median salary rises with experience level. The base median hourly salaries below are based on a 40-hour work week.
Level | Years of Experience | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Entry Level | < 1 Year | £21,000 | £1,750 | £10.10 |
Early Career | 1-4 Years | £25,000 | £2,083 | £12.02 |
Mid Career | 5-9 Years | £30,000 | £2,500 | £14.42 |
Late Career | 10-19 Years | £37,000 | £3,083 | £17.19 |
This Houzz Pro Learn guide will inform you about all of these factors so you can understand the effect on salary. Click a link below to jump to the section you're most interested in:
Factors That Can Influence an Interior Designer’s Salary:
Education May Result in a Higher Interior Design Job Salary
Formal education is not a must in the interior design field, but, having this experience will place you ahead of other candidates and may help you negotiate a higher salary. Houzz surveyed interior designers in 2022 and found that 44% obtained a bachelor’s degree as their highest level of education, while 27% went on to pursue a master’s degree.
Location Influences How Much Interior Designers Are Paid
If we take a closer look at salary based on location, the averages differ due to the type of clientele in a specific location. For example, the location with the highest-paid interior designers is South West London; designers there earn an average of £41,811 per year (Indeed).
Top 5 Locations With The Highest Interior Designer Salaries
Due to the location being a huge factor in earning power, it is important to consider the area where you could be the most successful and earn a good salary. You will also notice there will be cities with more available jobs, but the average salary might be lower (Indeed).
Top 5 Areas with Highest Interior Design Salaries
Here are the leading areas for interior designer salaries according to Indeed.
Area | Average Annual Salary | Average Monthly Salary | Average Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
South West London | £41,811 | £3,484 | £20.10 | |
West London | £40,517 | £3,376 | £19.48 | |
London (All Areas) | £39,563 | £3,296 | £19.02 | |
Nottingham | £37,626 | £3,135 | £18.09 | |
Birmingham | £36,160 | £3,013 | £17.38 |
How Much Do Interior Designers Make Across Different Job Pathways?
As of 2021, there are estimated 20,000 interior design businesses in the UK (BIID). Some of these businesses are large interior design firms, self-employed interior designers, and even government agencies.
Salary Considerations for Interior Design Firms
One common path is looking for job availability at an established interior design firm. Some of the pros of working for an interior design firm include:
- Stability: An established interior design firm will have a steady flow of clients, so you don’t have to worry about finding clients or pay.
- Benefits: Sick Pay, Different Types of Leave, Pensions, and PTO are usually included in your contract when working at an established firm.
The pros of working for a firm with a steady flow of clients and benefits are obvious, but the biggest con could be your independence.
Salary Considerations for Self-Employed Interior Designers
If you decide to freelance or start your own interior design firm, you will have more control over all aspects of the business. You will be able to decide what kind of clients you work for and how much you are being paid. But beware, starting your own business can be a challenging and risky endeavour. Because of the risks involved with starting their own interior design business, some designers start their careers working at a firm and then transition into their own businesses.
What Is the Annual Salary for Different Specialities of Interior Design?
There are many different areas of interior design and salaries can vary significantly.
Project Manager Interior Designer Salary
Project Managers for Interior Design are responsible for all aspects of planning, budgeting and execution of a project, ensuring all stakeholders, suppliers and contractors are brought into the project promptly to keep the project running smoothly.
As of 2023, the average salary of a Project Manager Interior Designer is £31,499 per year (Salary).
Design Manager Salary
Design Managers are usually involved with construction companies but can work with other sectors too. They oversee the design process and usually manage a design team. The Design Manager ensures all structural drawings are made to a high, accurate standard that's easy to decipher.
On average, Design Managers make £43,692 per year (Salary).
Bonuses & Benefits
Benefits can vary for interior designers. Companies will generally provide paid holidays, sick leave, a pension plan, and other forms of paid and unpaid leave. Self-employed designers must provide their own benefits and pension plan. According to Payscale, bonus amounts for interior designers range from £242 to £3000. As expected, those with more experience received the highest bonuses, around £3,000.
The top two most widespread benefits available to interior designers as employees or as owners are being able to work from home (enjoyed by 56% of designers) and discounts on services, merchandise and the like (enjoyed by 42%), followed by retirement plans and paid time off in a distant third and fourth place (17% and 10%, respectively).
When it comes to how much time off designers take each year, the largest share (39%) report taking one to two weeks off per year, which is closely followed by those who enjoy three to four weeks off (38%). That said, more than half (51%) of interior designers report taking at least three weeks off annually. Houzz also found that 52% of interior designers who are the sole owner or a partner of the business take two weeks or less time off from work, potentially due to having greater responsibilities.
As with any career, you can earn a good salary as an interior designer if you find the path that works best for you. Whether you are an entry-level interior designer or have a few years of experience, it is important to keep track of the factors that can affect how much you earn. If you’re ready to continue exploring whether interior design could be right for you, read more about how long it takes to become an interior designer.
