Becoming an Interior Decorator via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering interior decorating courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
interior decorators,
interior designers,
interior design professors,
interior design coordinators,
interior design consultants, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 46,010 people employed as
interior designers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$51,990.
Commercial and industrial designers make on average $61,400
per year and there are about 29,170
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Interior Decorator
- architect office
- electrician's office
- contractor's office
- homes
- home office
- indoor garden
- office
- studio
- showroom
- design center
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Interior Decorator
- comfortable and functional work environments
- work flexibly
- meet interesting people
- travel to different locations
- express your ideas
- use various materials
- try out new ideas
- work with fabrics and colours
- help people change their environment
- have the satisfaction of seeing visible improvement
Potential Drawbacks
- working conditions vary with the place of employment
- work extended hours
- work irregular hours
- issues may arise if there is a clash of aesthetic sensibilities
- demand for their services is largely dependent upon the level of activity in the building industry
- training and skill required
- have to strike a balance between a solution that will suit both the taste of the client and the characteristics of the building or room
- supervise the purchase of materials and coordinate their delivery installation or arrangement
- travel to a clients home or office
- work by yourself
Related Professions to Consider
- Architect
- Junior Interior Designer
- Commercial and industrial designer
- Fashion designer
- Floral designer
- Graphic designer
- Landscape architect
- Senior Interior Designer
- Interior and Residential Designer
- Professor of Interior Design
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Interior Decorator
- What are your goals as an interior designer?
- Where do you find yourself after next five years?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What qualities would you bring to our firm if you are selected?
- Why are you interested in our firm?
- Why do you want to become an interior designer?
- What qualities would you bring to our firm if you worked here?
- Why do you want to join our firm?
- What have been the biggest accomplishments of your career so far?
- What is your favourite piece in your portfolio and why?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Decorator
- Decorator Specialist
- Interior Designer
- Interior Painter
- In-Home Designer
- Carpet Installer
- Sales Consultant
- Design Consultant
- In-Home Design Consultant
- Designer
Interior Decorator Training books
Interior Decorator (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Design and Decorating
- Architectural history
- Interior design
- Lighting design
- Basic Design Materials
- Modern Design Materials
- Floral Design
- Kitchen & Bath Design
- Interior Decorating and Design
- Residential Design
Interior Decorator Salary Information
Category: Commercial and industrial designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
29,170 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.52/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.29 |
$20.21 |
$27.92 |
$37.16 |
$46.11 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$61,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,810 |
$42,040 |
$58,060 |
$77,300 |
$95,910 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.0% |
19.3% |
14.1% |
42.5% |
7.1% |
1.1% |
|
Commercial and industrial designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Massachusetts |
$35.15/hr
|
$73,100
|
| Missouri |
$35.04/hr
|
$72,880
|
| Maine |
$34.67/hr
|
$72,100
|
| Montana |
$34.45/hr
|
$71,660
|
| Oregon |
$33.43/hr
|
$69,540
|
| Colorado |
$33.16/hr
|
$68,970
|
| North Dakota |
$32.54/hr
|
$67,690
|
| Oklahoma |
$30.38/hr
|
$63,190
|
| Michigan |
$29.29/hr
|
$60,920
|
| Guam |
$29.28/hr
|
$60,910
|
| Hawaii |
$29.2/hr
|
$60,740
|
| Idaho |
$29.18/hr
|
$60,700
|
| Nevada |
$29.15/hr
|
$60,640
|
| Virginia |
$28.77/hr
|
$59,850
|
| Arkansas |
$27.87/hr
|
$57,960
|
| New York |
$27.84/hr
|
$57,920
|
| Wyoming |
$27.73/hr
|
$57,670
|
| Puerto Rico |
$27.69/hr
|
$57,600
|
| South Carolina |
$27.67/hr
|
$57,550
|
| Delaware |
$27.61/hr
|
$57,420
|
| Tennessee |
$27.45/hr
|
$57,100
|
| Connecticut |
$27.29/hr
|
$56,770
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.46/hr
|
$55,040
|
| Utah |
$26.14/hr
|
$54,370
|
| Alabama |
$26.11/hr
|
$54,300
|
| Nebraska |
$26.08/hr
|
$54,240
|
| North Carolina |
$26.06/hr
|
$54,210
|
| Kentucky |
$25.52/hr
|
$53,080
|
| Wisconsin |
$25.45/hr
|
$52,940
|
| South Dakota |
$25.41/hr
|
$52,860
|
| Kansas |
$24.87/hr
|
$51,740
|
| Indiana |
$24.55/hr
|
$51,060
|
| Washington |
$24.41/hr
|
$50,780
|
| Maryland |
$23.29/hr
|
$48,450
|
| Louisiana |
$23.09/hr
|
$48,020
|
| California |
$22.89/hr
|
$47,610
|
| Mississippi |
$22.19/hr
|
$46,160
|
| New Mexico |
$20.55/hr
|
$42,750
|
| Pennsylvania |
$20.15/hr
|
$41,920
|
| Iowa |
$18.76/hr
|
$39,030
|
| West Virginia |
$17.13/hr
|
$35,630
|
| New Jersey |
$15.85/hr
|
$32,960
|
Category: Fashion designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
15,780 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$35.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.54 |
$21.21 |
$30.9 |
$43.28 |
$62.93 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$74,410 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $32,320 |
$44,110 |
$64,260 |
$90,020 |
$130,900 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.0% |
19.3% |
14.1% |
42.5% |
7.1% |
1.1% |
|
Fashion designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Carolina |
$41.08/hr
|
$85,460
|
| Michigan |
$39.2/hr
|
$81,540
|
| Colorado |
$39.18/hr
|
$81,490
|
| Delaware |
$38.98/hr
|
$81,070
|
| Oklahoma |
$38.37/hr
|
$79,800
|
| Wisconsin |
$38.32/hr
|
$79,700
|
| North Dakota |
$34.41/hr
|
$71,570
|
| Connecticut |
$32.66/hr
|
$67,930
|
| Maine |
$31.36/hr
|
$65,230
|
| Oregon |
$28.93/hr
|
$60,180
|
| Wyoming |
$27.9/hr
|
$58,030
|
| Tennessee |
$27.27/hr
|
$56,720
|
| Idaho |
$27.14/hr
|
$56,450
|
| South Carolina |
$27.14/hr
|
$56,460
|
| Hawaii |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,840
|
| Missouri |
$24.74/hr
|
$51,460
|
| Utah |
$24.65/hr
|
$51,270
|
| Montana |
$24.64/hr
|
$51,240
|
| Nebraska |
$24.59/hr
|
$51,150
|
| Kansas |
$23.17/hr
|
$48,200
|
| Washington |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Kentucky |
$21.25/hr
|
$44,210
|
| Indiana |
$21.17/hr
|
$44,040
|
| New Hampshire |
$19.52/hr
|
$40,610
|
| New York |
$19.22/hr
|
$39,970
|
| Iowa |
$18.57/hr
|
$38,620
|
| Mississippi |
$18.13/hr
|
$37,710
|
Category: Floral designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
51,470 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$11.99/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.92 |
$9.12 |
$11.31 |
$14.23 |
$17.35 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$24,940 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,480 |
$18,960 |
$23,530 |
$29,600 |
$36,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.0% |
19.3% |
14.1% |
42.5% |
7.1% |
1.1% |
|
Floral designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Virginia |
$14.6/hr
|
$30,360
|
| North Dakota |
$14.5/hr
|
$30,170
|
| Puerto Rico |
$14.29/hr
|
$29,730
|
| Missouri |
$14.26/hr
|
$29,670
|
| Mississippi |
$14.23/hr
|
$29,600
|
| Florida |
$14.19/hr
|
$29,520
|
| Delaware |
$14.13/hr
|
$29,390
|
| New York |
$14.12/hr
|
$29,360
|
| Colorado |
$14.04/hr
|
$29,210
|
| Oklahoma |
$13.46/hr
|
$28,010
|
| North Carolina |
$13.14/hr
|
$27,320
|
| Indiana |
$13.07/hr
|
$27,180
|
| Connecticut |
$12.75/hr
|
$26,510
|
| District of Columbia |
$12.5/hr
|
$25,990
|
| Nebraska |
$12.29/hr
|
$25,560
|
| Utah |
$12.11/hr
|
$25,180
|
| Hawaii |
$11.93/hr
|
$24,820
|
| Kansas |
$11.83/hr
|
$24,610
|
| Alaska |
$11.82/hr
|
$24,590
|
| Montana |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Idaho |
$11.68/hr
|
$24,290
|
| Arkansas |
$11.58/hr
|
$24,080
|
| New Mexico |
$11.5/hr
|
$23,920
|
| Michigan |
$11.4/hr
|
$23,710
|
| Oregon |
$11.12/hr
|
$23,120
|
| Massachusetts |
$11.05/hr
|
$22,970
|
| Tennessee |
$10.97/hr
|
$22,820
|
| Guam |
$10.96/hr
|
$22,800
|
| Wyoming |
$10.94/hr
|
$22,750
|
| Washington |
$10.91/hr
|
$22,700
|
| Kentucky |
$10.89/hr
|
$22,660
|
| Wisconsin |
$10.82/hr
|
$22,500
|
| South Carolina |
$10.67/hr
|
$22,200
|
| Maine |
$10.63/hr
|
$22,100
|
| Louisiana |
$10.54/hr
|
$21,920
|
| California |
$10.48/hr
|
$21,800
|
| New Hampshire |
$10.48/hr
|
$21,800
|
| Ohio |
$10.33/hr
|
$21,480
|
| Nevada |
$10.12/hr
|
$21,040
|
| Alabama |
$10.08/hr
|
$20,970
|
| West Virginia |
$10.07/hr
|
$20,940
|
| Pennsylvania |
$9.92/hr
|
$20,630
|
| New Jersey |
$9.9/hr
|
$20,580
|
| Iowa |
$9.89/hr
|
$20,560
|
| South Dakota |
$9.87/hr
|
$20,540
|
| Maryland |
$9.66/hr
|
$20,090
|
Category: Interior designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
46,010 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.99/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $12.97 |
$16.93 |
$22.2 |
$30.56 |
$40.2 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$51,990 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26,980 |
$35,220 |
$46,180 |
$63,570 |
$83,620 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.0% |
19.3% |
14.1% |
42.5% |
7.1% |
1.1% |
|
Interior designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$32.48/hr
|
$67,550
|
| Oklahoma |
$31.55/hr
|
$65,630
|
| Alaska |
$30.98/hr
|
$64,440
|
| New York |
$29.53/hr
|
$61,420
|
| Delaware |
$29.4/hr
|
$61,150
|
| Virginia |
$28.36/hr
|
$58,990
|
| Montana |
$28.22/hr
|
$58,700
|
| Michigan |
$28.16/hr
|
$58,570
|
| Missouri |
$28.09/hr
|
$58,430
|
| Colorado |
$27.94/hr
|
$58,120
|
| Mississippi |
$27.52/hr
|
$57,230
|
| New Jersey |
$26.98/hr
|
$56,120
|
| North Dakota |
$26.17/hr
|
$54,430
|
| Indiana |
$25.77/hr
|
$53,590
|
| Alabama |
$25/hr
|
$51,990
|
| Kansas |
$24.36/hr
|
$50,660
|
| Idaho |
$24.06/hr
|
$50,050
|
| Hawaii |
$23.66/hr
|
$49,220
|
| Washington |
$23.61/hr
|
$49,110
|
| Massachusetts |
$23.58/hr
|
$49,050
|
| Arkansas |
$23.36/hr
|
$48,600
|
| Wyoming |
$23.31/hr
|
$48,480
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.91/hr
|
$47,650
|
| Connecticut |
$22.76/hr
|
$47,330
|
| Nebraska |
$22.68/hr
|
$47,180
|
| Utah |
$22.64/hr
|
$47,100
|
| Tennessee |
$22.48/hr
|
$46,760
|
| South Dakota |
$22.31/hr
|
$46,410
|
| Puerto Rico |
$22.24/hr
|
$46,250
|
| Oregon |
$22.09/hr
|
$45,940
|
| New Mexico |
$22.04/hr
|
$45,840
|
| Maine |
$21.99/hr
|
$45,730
|
| Iowa |
$21.6/hr
|
$44,920
|
| Wisconsin |
$21.39/hr
|
$44,490
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.99/hr
|
$43,660
|
| South Carolina |
$20.27/hr
|
$42,170
|
| Ohio |
$19.64/hr
|
$40,840
|
| Kentucky |
$19.57/hr
|
$40,710
|
| California |
$19.28/hr
|
$40,110
|
| Louisiana |
$18.83/hr
|
$39,170
|
| Pennsylvania |
$18.74/hr
|
$38,990
|
| West Virginia |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Maryland |
$17.14/hr
|
$35,660
|
| Nevada |
$15.03/hr
|
$31,250
|
Category: Designers, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
10,510 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.24/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.18 |
$13.84 |
$21.16 |
$31.5 |
$43.22 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$50,420 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21,180 |
$28,780 |
$44,020 |
$65,520 |
$89,890 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.7% |
13.0% |
19.3% |
14.1% |
42.5% |
7.1% |
1.1% |
|
Designers, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Kansas |
$30.67/hr
|
$63,800
|
| Virginia |
$29.09/hr
|
$60,500
|
| Delaware |
$28.31/hr
|
$58,880
|
| Oklahoma |
$27.06/hr
|
$56,280
|
| Oregon |
$25.94/hr
|
$53,950
|
| New York |
$25.9/hr
|
$53,860
|
| Idaho |
$25.53/hr
|
$53,100
|
| Utah |
$25/hr
|
$51,990
|
| Montana |
$24.13/hr
|
$50,180
|
| North Dakota |
$23.85/hr
|
$49,600
|
| Massachusetts |
$23.34/hr
|
$48,560
|
| Tennessee |
$22.89/hr
|
$47,610
|
| Nebraska |
$22.72/hr
|
$47,250
|
| Colorado |
$22.45/hr
|
$46,690
|
| Wisconsin |
$21.42/hr
|
$44,560
|
| Maine |
$20.95/hr
|
$43,570
|
| Hawaii |
$20.26/hr
|
$42,140
|
| Michigan |
$20.2/hr
|
$42,010
|
| North Carolina |
$20.07/hr
|
$41,750
|
| Alabama |
$18.97/hr
|
$39,460
|
| Louisiana |
$18.65/hr
|
$38,790
|
| Wyoming |
$18.58/hr
|
$38,650
|
| Mississippi |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,410
|
| Kentucky |
$17.32/hr
|
$36,030
|
| South Carolina |
$17.01/hr
|
$35,370
|
| Connecticut |
$15.25/hr
|
$31,730
|
| California |
$13.77/hr
|
$28,630
|
| Maryland |
$13.62/hr
|
$28,320
|
| District of Columbia |
$13.47/hr
|
$28,020
|
| New Mexico |
$11.34/hr
|
$23,590
|
