Becoming an Interior Designer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Westwood College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering interior design courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
interior design consultants,
interior designers,
interior decorators,
interior architects,
interior design coordinators,
interior design directors, 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 Westwood College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Interior Designer
- residential project facility
- home office
- design store
- furniture shop
- window installation department
- architects office
- site inspection facility
- large scale township
- modular kitchen
- physical & virtual model store
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Interior Designer
- be creative daily
- increases ability to visualize concepts
- change trends in design
- help to increase people's satisfaction with their homes
- opportunity to travel outside your country to work with international clients
- earn a high salary
- use organizational skills
- participate in constuction and planning
- own your own business
- develop relationships with other people in contstruction and design profession
Potential Drawbacks
- inconsistency in the job market
- high education required
- must have an artistic eye
- high stress
- high pressure
- must be able to deal with clients
- long hours
- little room for error
- often freelance
- networking is extremely important
Related Professions to Consider
- Graphic Designer
- Furniture Builder
- Architect
- Gardener
- Clothing Designer
- Toy Designer
- CAD Designer
- Video Game Designer
- Software Designer
- Design Manager
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Interior Designer
- How did you get started as an interior designer?
- What's your focus now?
- What do you like most about your work?
- What is most challenging about interior design work?
- What does a person coming into this field need to know?
- Why do you want to become an interior designer?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses in this study?
- What are the things to be considered to accept a project on interior designing?
- How do you classify interior designing?
- How will you differentiate the interior designing for a child to that of an adult?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Building Contractor
- Architect
- Electrician
- Furnishing Specialist
- Walls and Tiles Specialist
- Accountants
- Laborers
- Heating/cooling and plumbing specialist
- Painter
- Feng shui master
Interior Designer Training books
Interior Designer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Introduction to Interior Design
- Textiles Interior Materials & Sources
- Introduction to Sustainable Design
- Interior Design & Foundation for Design
- Practical Applications of Sustainable Design
- Healthy Sustainable Interiors
- History of Furniture
- Modern Furniture & Design
- Furniture Design & Construction
- Graphic Communication
Interior Designer 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: 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: Set and exhibit designers
| Total # Employed in the US |
7,940 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.33/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $12.32 |
$15.5 |
$21.83 |
$31.39 |
$39.81 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$50,600 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $25,620 |
$32,250 |
$45,400 |
$65,290 |
$82,810 |
|
| 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% |
|
Set and exhibit designers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$30.1/hr
|
$62,600
|
| Colorado |
$29.33/hr
|
$61,000
|
| Florida |
$28.93/hr
|
$60,170
|
| Mississippi |
$27.83/hr
|
$57,900
|
| South Carolina |
$27.02/hr
|
$56,200
|
| Oklahoma |
$26.49/hr
|
$55,100
|
| Tennessee |
$26.06/hr
|
$54,200
|
| Ohio |
$24.47/hr
|
$50,900
|
| Nebraska |
$23.41/hr
|
$48,700
|
| Delaware |
$23.19/hr
|
$48,240
|
| Kansas |
$22.98/hr
|
$47,800
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.92/hr
|
$47,680
|
| Hawaii |
$22.66/hr
|
$47,120
|
| Alabama |
$21.49/hr
|
$44,700
|
| Guam |
$20.93/hr
|
$43,530
|
| Oregon |
$20.85/hr
|
$43,360
|
| Kentucky |
$20.82/hr
|
$43,310
|
| Wyoming |
$20.43/hr
|
$42,490
|
| Montana |
$18.97/hr
|
$39,450
|
| Utah |
$18.91/hr
|
$39,320
|
| Idaho |
$18.48/hr
|
$38,440
|
| Connecticut |
$17.96/hr
|
$37,350
|
| Arkansas |
$16.66/hr
|
$34,650
|
| Washington |
$14.38/hr
|
$29,920
|
| South Dakota |
$10.44/hr
|
$21,720
|
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
|
