Job Facts^*
Suggested Studies	Bachelor
Salary, Typical	$47,620
Salary Range	$26k - $86k
Number of Jobs, 2011	40,950
Job Openings per Year (est.)	2,840

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Interior and Space Designer Training and Jobs

Schools and Degrees

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

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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.

Job Overview

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.

Job Requirements

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.

Nature of Work

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.

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).

Part-Time and Self Employment

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

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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

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Birmingham	$44,000	170	+14%
Huntsville	$42,000	40	-34%

Arizona

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Phoenix	$52,000	700	+30%
Tucson	$47,000	110	+7%

Arkansas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Little Rock	$40,000	70	-33%

California

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fresno	$46,000	70	-27%
Los Angeles	$57,000	1,680	+36%
Riverside	$51,000	250	-32%
Sacramento	$50,000	150	-43%
San Diego	$48,000	590	+48%
San Francisco	$67,000	880	+191%
San Jose	$60,000	110	-60%
Santa Ana	$60,000	770	+74%
Santa Barbara	$66,000	40	-18%
Santa Rosa	$64,000	80	+58%

Colorado

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Boulder	$44,000	50	+12%
Colorado Springs	$43,000	50	-33%
Denver	$50,000	640	+68%
Fort Collins	$47,000	40	+11%

Connecticut

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Bridgeport	$69,000	310	+142%
Danbury	$46,000	40	+115%
Hartford	$51,000	170	-2%

Delaware

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Wilmington	$47,000	70	-28%

District of Columbia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Washington	$64,000	1,220	+64%

Florida

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Cape Coral	$34,000	60	+6%
Fort Lauderdale	$48,000	360	+70%
Jacksonville	$48,000	310	+70%
Miami	$55,000	400	+34%
Naples	$58,000	80	+151%
Orlando	$50,000	390	+26%
Palm Bay	$46,000	40	-31%
Pensacola	$51,000	40	-7%
Port St Lucie	$37,000	40	+18%
Sarasota	$49,000	150	+106%
Sebastian	$40,000	50	+301%
Tallahassee	$46,000	40	-15%
Tampa	$44,000	360	+3%
West Palm Beach	$52,000	480	+207%

Georgia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Athens	$25,000	30	+54%
Atlanta	$53,000	970	+38%
Columbus	$33,000	30	-4%
Savannah	$46,000	40	-7%

Hawaii

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Honolulu	$49,000	110	-17%

Idaho

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Boise	$43,000	90	+16%

Illinois

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Chicago	$53,000	1,160	+1%

Indiana

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fort Wayne	$32,000	70	+17%
Gary	$33,000	80	0%
Indianapolis	$44,000	510	+87%
South Bend	$27,000	60	+62%

Iowa

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Cedar Rapids	$40,000	40	0%
Des Moines	$47,000	150	+52%

Kansas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Wichita	$47,000	70	-19%

Kentucky

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Louisville	$40,000	160	-13%

Louisiana

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Baton Rouge	$65,000	130	+16%
Lafayette	$37,000	40	-3%
New Orleans	$48,000	160	0%

Maine

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Portland	$43,000	60	+2%

Maryland

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Baltimore	$51,000	410	+3%
Bethesda	$64,000	340	+94%

Massachusetts

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Barnstable Town	$36,000	40	+43%
Boston	$58,000	630	+19%
Framingham	$55,000	80	+68%
Worcester	$72,000	70	-6%

Michigan

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Ann Arbor	$48,000	80	+64%
Detroit	$57,000	70	-66%
Grand Rapids	$79,000	160	+41%
Holland	$38,000	30	+10%
Warren	$70,000	210	-36%

Minnesota

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Minneapolis	$51,000	980	+80%

Mississippi

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Jackson	$29,000	90	+20%

Missouri

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Kansas City	$48,000	360	+17%
Springfield	$34,000	70	+25%
St Louis	$46,000	440	+8%

Nebraska

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Lincoln	$34,000	80	+72%
Omaha	$42,000	140	-2%

Nevada

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Las Vegas	$66,000	280	+8%
Reno	$49,000	90	+60%

New Hampshire

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Manchester	$46,000	30	+2%

New Jersey

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Camden	$47,000	120	-24%
Edison	$53,000	210	-33%
Newark	$57,000	280	-8%
Trenton	$66,000	60	-11%

New Mexico

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Albuquerque	$54,000	130	+12%

New York

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Albany	$80,000	90	-34%
Buffalo	$39,000	120	-28%
Nassau	$62,000	370	-4%
New York	$68,000	2,570	+62%
Rochester	$44,000	130	-15%
Syracuse	$51,000	140	+49%

North Carolina

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Asheville	$32,000	40	-23%
Charlotte	$57,000	290	+11%
Greensboro	$37,000	140	+31%
Winston Salem	$45,000	170	+173%

North Dakota

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fargo	$37,000	30	-14%

Ohio

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Akron	$44,000	50	-48%
Cincinnati	$45,000	320	+4%
Cleveland	$41,000	320	+3%
Columbus	$55,000	340	+21%
Dayton	$46,000	100	-13%
Toledo	$42,000	50	-43%

Oklahoma

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Oklahoma City	$42,000	70	-60%
Tulsa	$53,000	110	-15%

Oregon

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Portland	$49,000	340	+9%

Pennsylvania

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Allentown	$48,000	100	-4%
Harrisburg	$54,000	40	-58%
Lancaster	$39,000	90	+29%
Philadelphia	$46,000	800	+37%
Pittsburgh	$41,000	170	-51%
Reading	$43,000	40	-18%
Scranton	$46,000	30	-61%

Rhode Island

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Providence	$62,000	160	-5%

South Carolina

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Charleston		70	-19%
Columbia	$48,000	100	-5%
Greenville	$45,000	100	+12%

South Dakota

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Sioux Falls	$45,000	40	-1%

Tennessee

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Chattanooga	$47,000	60	-11%
Knoxville	$42,000	60	-40%
Memphis	$43,000	110	-41%
Nashville	$43,000	250	+11%

Texas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Austin	$41,000	340	+42%
Dallas	$58,000	1,170	+83%
El Paso	$41,000	40	-51%
Fort Worth	$48,000	250	-5%
Houston	$52,000	1,100	+37%
Lubbock	$48,000	30	-17%
Midland	$54,000	30	+75%
San Antonio	$47,000	260	-2%

Utah

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Ogden		30	-49%
Salt Lake City	$70,000	230	+25%

Virginia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Charlottesville	$49,000	30	+24%
Richmond	$51,000	280	+50%
Roanoke	$66,000	60	+32%
Virginia Beach	$48,000	220	-5%

Washington

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Seattle	$54,000	590	+38%
Spokane	$43,000	50	-17%
Tacoma	$52,000	80	+1%

Wisconsin

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Green Bay	$47,000	40	-19%
Madison	$47,000	280	+176%
Milwaukee	$50,000	270	+7%

^*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Interior Designers schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.

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