Quick answer
Interior design can be a good major for creative students who also like technical detail, but the pay is modest. BLS reports a median of $63,490 for interior designers, and our loan calculator shows a smaller lifetime payoff than most majors. Keep the loan low and look for an accredited program with strong internships.
Many teens discover interior design through home-makeover shows, so it can look like picking paint colors and pillows. The real job is closer to architecture: floor plans, building codes, lighting, accessibility rules and design software.
That makes it a better fit for some students than parents expect, and a worse one for others. Below we cover the jobs it leads to, what they pay, and why the cost of the degree matters more here than for most majors.
What Jobs Can You Get With an Interior Design Degree?
Pay figures are national medians (the middle wage, not the average) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Half of workers earn more and half earn less. Our calculators and Continuum chart use BLS averages (means), which are usually higher, so their numbers may not match these.
1. Interior Designer
Plans homes, offices, hospitals, hotels and stores, from layout to finishes, and coordinates with contractors. BLS: median $63,490 (middle half earns $49,770–$80,830). Commercial and healthcare design tend to pay more than residential work.
2. Set and Exhibit Designer
Designs sets for theater, film and TV, and exhibits for museums and trade shows. BLS: median $66,280 ($48,920–$100,020).
3. Commercial and Industrial Designer
Designs furniture, fixtures and products. Interior design grads with strong drawing and 3D skills move into this work. BLS: median $79,450.
4. Drafter (Architectural)
Turns designs into detailed technical drawings with CAD software. BLS architectural and civil drafters earn a median $64,280. It is a common bridge job into architecture and design firms.
5. Facilities Manager
Runs the buildings a company already has: layouts, moves, maintenance and space planning. BLS: median $104,690. It usually takes years of experience, but it is one of the better-paying long-term paths for interior design grads.
6. Kitchen, Bath or Furniture Sales Design
Showrooms, cabinet makers and furniture companies hire designers who also sell. Pay often includes commission, and BLS does not track it as one job.
How Much Do Interior Design Majors Make?
| Career | Median pay | Middle 50% range | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior designer | $63,490 | $49,770–$80,830 | Bachelor's |
| Architectural or civil drafter | $64,280 | $52,880–$79,510 | Associate or bachelor's |
| Set and exhibit designer | $66,280 | $48,920–$100,020 | Bachelor's |
| Commercial and industrial designer | $79,450 | $62,040–$103,170 | Bachelor's |
| Facilities manager | $104,690 | $80,150–$135,650 | Bachelor's + experience |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
What Do Interior Design Majors Study?
Expect drawing and design studios, color and lighting, materials and textiles, building systems, codes and accessibility, the history of architecture and furniture, and a lot of software (CAD, 3D modeling and rendering). Studios mean long hours on projects and regular critiques. Some states regulate the title "interior designer" or require a license for commercial work, usually through the NCIDQ exam after education and work experience. A program accredited by CIDA makes that path easier, so check accreditation before you apply.
Is an Interior Design Degree Worth It?
MajorMatch's Interior Design Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $53,000 early-career and $84,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $226,129 over a high-school-only path, about 3.3 times the loan cost. It is an illustration, not a promise, and you can change every input.
That ratio ranks in the bottom fifth of the 100 majors in our calculator (18th lowest), because early-career design pay is close to the high-school baseline. The degree still pays off on these numbers, but the cost matters. An in-state public program, scholarships and a paid internship can make the difference. Borrowing heavily for a private design school is hard to justify on interior-design pay.
How Will AI Affect Interior Design Careers?
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Interior designers score 43%. AI tools can already generate room concepts and speed up research. Working with clients, checking codes and coordinating contractors on site stay human. Designers who use AI for quick concepts and spend their time on the client and the build will do best.
Is Interior Design the Right Major for Your Teen?
Interior design fits students who are visual and detail-minded, enjoy software as much as sketching, and like working with clients. If your teen is drawn to buildings and structure more than finishes, compare architecture, which pays more but takes longer. If they love the visual side most, see graphic design. The free MajorMatch assessment uses our own proprietary scoring method to compare your student's strengths and interests with all 100 majors, including interior design, and shows their top 3 for free. Take the assessment before you commit to a program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do interior designers make good money?
Pay is moderate. BLS reports a median of $63,490 for interior designers (May 2024), with the middle half earning $49,770 to $80,830. Commercial, healthcare and management roles pay more over time.
Is interior design hard to get into?
Many programs ask for a portfolio, and design studios are time-consuming. The bigger challenge is the workload, not admission.
Do you need a license to be an interior designer?
It depends on the state. Some states regulate the title or commercial work, usually through the NCIDQ exam after school and work experience. Check your state's rules.
Is interior design better than architecture?
It is shorter and less math-heavy, but architecture usually pays more. It depends on whether your teen prefers the inside of buildings or the whole structure.
Will AI replace interior designers?
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check rates interior designers at 43% task exposure. AI speeds up concepts and research, but client work, code checks and site coordination remain human.