Interior Designers Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$50,940
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,370
- 50th Percentile — Median$80,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$102,940
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$131,770
Half of Interior Designers in California earn more than $80,230. The top 10% make $131,770 or more, while entry-level workers start around $50,940.
Interior Designers in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 2nd of 49 states for Interior Designers pay, at $89,740 per year (20.4% above the U.S. average of $74,540).
- 8,500 people work as Interior Designers in California — 11.9% of all U.S. Interior Designers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.02: Interior Designers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,940; the top 10% earn over $131,770.
- Hourly equivalent: $43.14 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $102,040.
- Among creative jobs in California, Art Directors pays the most ($156,060).
Interior Designers Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Interior Designers here earn $89,740 on average, placing the state 2nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $89,740 is roughly equivalent to $63,197 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($102,040), Wyoming ($89,250), Colorado ($86,940) are the closest alternatives for Interior Designers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Art Directors $156,060/yr California +73.9% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $155,750/yr California +73.6% vs this role
- Special Effects Artists and Animators $134,360/yr California +49.7% vs this role
- Editors $111,810/yr California +24.6% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $106,560/yr California +18.7% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $106,350/yr California +18.5% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $97,140/yr California +8.2% vs this role
- Graphic Designers $86,800/yr California 3.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Interior Designers salary in California?
The average Interior Designers salary in California is $89,740 per year (median $80,230), which is 20.4% above the national average of $74,540.
How does California rank for Interior Designers pay?
California ranks 2nd out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($102,040/yr).
How much do entry-level Interior Designers make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Interior Designers in California earn about $50,940 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,370.
How much do Interior Designers make per hour in California?
About $43.14 per hour, based on the $89,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Interior Designers work in California?
BLS counts 8,500 Interior Designers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data