IDInterior Designer
ID
Career

Interior Designer

By the numbers
Typical pay
$67,190 / yr
Education to start
Bachelor's degree
Future demand
+3.2% by 2034
People in this job
72K
Figures shown for ·1 O*NET occupation
The work
A day, hour by hour

Days shift between studio, client meetings, and job sites — here's one blend:

08:30
Site measure

Tape out an empty office floor. Check what the space can really hold.

09:45
Contractor walkthrough

Spot a misplaced outlet on site. Fix it now or call the client?

11:00
Client meeting

Ask how the family cooks, works, and hosts. Listen for what they skip.

12:30
Floor plan sketching

Redraw the layout so traffic flows. Test it against daily routines.

14:00
3D rendering

Build the living room in SketchUp. Swap wall colors until the light feels right.

15:30
Code check

Verify exit widths, fire ratings, and accessible clearances. Rework any failures.

16:30
Materials & budget

Compare fabric samples and prices. Is the gorgeous tile worth the extra cost?

17:45
Orders & deadlines

Chase a late sofa delivery. Update the schedule and tell the client.

Things you do
  • Sketch floor plans that make a room look good and work well.
  • Choose colors, lighting, furniture, and materials that fit a client's taste and budget.
  • Meet clients to learn how they live or work and what they want.
  • Build 3D renderings in SketchUp or Revit so clients can see the space.
  • Measure empty rooms and check what the space can actually hold.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Do I give this client the look they asked for, or what they'll actually love living with?
  • Is this gorgeous idea worth the extra cost, or should I swap in something cheaper?
  • Will this layout still work when real people use the room every day?
  • Does this design meet fire and accessibility rules, or do I need to rework it?
  • Should I fix this site problem on the spot, or stop and check with the client?
Education Pathways · how you get there
100 in 100 went the college route · 0 in 100 found another way in None, typically
Education mapped from O*NET:Interior Designers · 98% related
If you like this, also look at