Interior Designer

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Work Tasks

• Plan the space and furnishings for homes, buildings, offices, hospitals, stores, restaurants, theaters, planes, cruise ships, and other interiors
• Consider the customer's tastes, needs, and what they can afford and make drawings of what can be done
• Suggest construction, furniture, lighting, colors, floor and wall coverings, and window treatments
• Use computers to make layout designs and make changes based on what the customer wants
• Work inside for interior design firms, utility companies, hotels and restaurants, furniture and department stores, and the government
• Work with plans, blueprints, computers, contracts, furniture and office equipment; and sample books of fabrics, paints, and wall and floor coverings

Salary, Size & Growth

• $53,500 average per year ($25.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (40,100 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 2-year degree in interior design qualifies a person to work as an assistant designer.
• Employers Prefer: A 4-year degree in interior design
• Skills/Courses: College courses include computer-aided design (CAD), drawing, perspective, spatial planning, color and fabrics, furniture design, architecture, ergonomics, ethics, and psychology.
• Certification/Licensing: Some states require interior designers to be licensed or registered.