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Interior designers are concerned with the decoration of interior spaces like walls, doors, windows, lights, finishes and furniture. Their primary job is to create a functional, safe and aesthetically pleasant interior for their client. Interior designers plan the design of spaces inside any kind of building, ranging from hotels, corporate houses, airport terminals, shopping malls, restaurants and theaters, to hospitals, schools and even private residences.

To make it as a successful interior designer, a post-secondary education in interior design can prove to be of help. Colleges, universities and professional design schools award associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as diplomas and certificate programs. With a certificate or associate’s degree, one can become an assistant to an interior designer, while a bachelor’s degree will make one eligible for a formal design apprenticeship program. Some of the well known schools in the US that offer courses on interior designing are:

• American InterContinental University
• Berkeley College
• Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
• Digital Media Arts College
• Kaplan University
• Tri-State Business Institute

Interior designers can also opt for certifications in kitchen and bath design from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Memberships in professional associations like the American Society of Interior Designers are also an indication of one’s qualifications and professional experience.

Creativity, imagination and persistence are of utmost value to an interior designer. In addition to technical knowledge, an interior designer must be able to conceptualize and communicate ideas verbally, visually and in writing. To be successful, one must have a great sense of aesthetics and be open to new ideas.

Earlier, interior designing was focused on styles and color palettes. However, the current trend is to pay attention to architectural detailing. This involves planning layouts of buildings, including the location of doors, windows, stairways, corridors and escalators. The concept of crown moldings and built-in shelves are also catching on fast.

Interior designers may work for corporate houses or smaller design firms. In accordance, the working conditions may vary. Though working hours are normal in most cases, extensions may sometimes be required in order to meet deadlines. Interior designers also need to be up-to-date with the latest trends.

According to research in 2006, interior designers held about 72,000 jobs in the US. Employment is \highest in the following industries:

• Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
• Building Material and Supplies Dealers
• Furniture Stores
• Residential Building Construction
• Specialized Design Services

The mean hourly wage for interior designers in the US is about $24.13, while the mean annual wages are around $50,190.

Job Numbers and Growth

There were about 72,000 interior and space designers across the US in 2008. Unemployment for workers was considered low in the recent past, relative to other occupations. The percentage of employees unemployed in 2008 was 4%.

Area Job Conditions

The cities with the most interior and space designers per capita are Sebastian (Florida), Barnstable (Massachusetts), and Naples (Florida), while the worst cities are Rochester (New York), Albany (New York), and Worcester (Massachusetts).

The highest salaries for workers are in and around Anchorage (Alaska), San Francisco (California), and Newark (New Jersey). The lowest-paying areas are Gary (Indiana), Jackson (Mississippi), and Hot Springs (Arkansas).

Training and Education

Education or job training for employees typically involves an associate degree. At least 55% of interior and space designers had a degree of four or more years. About 31% of workers had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 14% of employees had just a high-school diploma. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

An estimated 17% of interior and space designers work part-time. An estimated 26% of workers were self-employed.

Interior And Space Designers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin