Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such enhancement projects.
Interior design is more than just about taste and appearances. Safety is taken into account when designing the interiors of a place. That is why most interior designers study for four years at a university to acquire a degree. There are also different areas of specialisation in interior design like engineering, architecture, health care, etc. The same skill set needed to design a house for seniors is not the same used for designing an engineers’ office. To design a house for seniors one needs to take into account their mobility, sight, and height. For example, walk-in showers for old people should be different from young people.
Interior Designers Around the World
In the United States of America, the salary of an interior designer is based on the City they live in, the company they work with, their area of expertise and also their years of experience. For instance, an interior designer who works in New York may make an annual salary of about 54000 USD to 78000 USD. This implies that the person makes an average of 65000 USD annually while the same interior designer now with the same skill set will make an average of 55000 USD living in Georgia. The same goes for all the other cities. Each has their average salary based on the cost of living in that particular city. Factoring in all of this, interior designers living in the United States of America make an average of 55000 USD annually and a monthly salary of about 4500 USD.
Moving on to the United Kingdom however, interior designers make different money. In London, an interior designer makes an average of 37990 GBP, in Manchester, they make an average of 31462 GBP, and in Leeds, an interior designer makes about 28161 GBP.
And Interior Designers living in the South West will have an annual salary of 38518 GBP. Someone living in London will probably make about 10000 GBP more than someone living in Leeds. The United Kingdom has an annual salary average of 35000 GBP for interior designers.
In Saudi Arabia on the other hand, while interior designers may be paid based on city, expertise, and experience, most of their salary gap comes from gender bias. They pay female interior designers drastically lower than they pay their male interior designers. Taking this in mind, the monthly range is from 7000 SAR to 23000 SAR. This means they have an average of about 15000 SAR.
In Australia, interior designers working there make about 41000 AUD to 99000 AUD per year. Since 2018, the pay rate for interior designers in Australia has taken a turn for the better and is still climbing.
In China, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 28300 CNY monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 15000 CNY to 43000 CNY. This means they have an annual salary of 339600 CNY.
In South Africa, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 32300 ZAR monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 16800 ZAR to 49500 ZAR. This means they have an annual salary of 387600 ZAR.
In Egypt, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 9550 EGP monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 4750 EGP to 15500 EGP. This means they have an annual salary of 114600 EGP
A person working as an Interior Designer in Italy typically earns around 3730 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1830 EUR (lowest) to 5810 EUR (highest)
A person working as an Interior Designer in the Philippines typically earns around 48000 PHP per month. Salaries range from 22100 PHP (lowest) to 76300 PHP (highest). There are, however, few people that earn slightly above the highest mark.
A person working as an Interior Designer in Brazil typically earns around 10400 BRL per month. Salaries range from 5390 BRL (lowest) to 15900 BRL (highest).
An Interior Designer living and working in Poland typically earns around 17000 PLN per month. Salaries range from 8490 PLN (lowest) to 26300 PLN (highest). Earning below 17000 is living below the cut.
An Interior Designer who works in Ireland receives a salary of about 150000 EUR per year. Their annual pay ranges from 70400 EUR to 237000 EUR. If you make below 150000 EUR then you are living below average.
A person working as an Interior Designer in Dubai typically earns around 15600 AED per month. Salaries range from 7340 AED (lowest) to 24700 AED (highest). Earning below 15000 AED is living below average and there is room for improvement.
In India, the Average Interior Designer Salary is 303938 INR annually.
Comparing Countries
As shown in the stats above, there is a sharp contrast in salaries from developed countries and developing countries. In Nigeria for instance, a well experienced Interior Designer will make less than 700 USD monthly while an interior design intern in the US will make 3000 USD monthly in Georgia. The cost of living in Lagos, on the other hand, is much lower than the cost of living in Georgia. So countries also play a big role in interior design salaries. When it comes to all developed countries, their salary range is much closer together.
So world wide, there are countries that Interior Designers make as low as 200 USD and there are countries where interior designers make as much as 8000 USD per month. If you live in Europe, North America, Asia or Great Britain, pursuing a career in the interior designer will be a great move financially especially if it’s something you have passion for.
