California Median
$80,230
per year
Hourly Rate
$38.57
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+19% vs US median
US median $67,190
State Rank
#3 of 49
8,500 employed here
How much does an Interior Designer make in California?
Interior Designers in California take home a median of $80,230 annually — roughly $38.57 an hour — which runs 19% above the national median of $67,190.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $50,940 while the top 10% make $131,770 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $63,370 and $102,940 a year.
Interior Designer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,940 | $24.49 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,370 | $30.47 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $80,230 | $38.57 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $102,940 | $49.49 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,770 | $63.35 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 49 states and territories for Interior Designer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Interior Designer salary in other states
District of Columbia $98,450Wyoming $96,100Massachusetts $80,110Colorado $78,390Washington $76,570Illinois $76,290New York $75,580New Jersey $74,020Minnesota $73,270Georgia $71,760Arkansas $69,990Oklahoma $68,520Connecticut $67,330Oregon $66,350South Dakota $65,220Texas $65,160Maryland $65,070Nebraska $64,870New Hampshire $64,140Vermont $63,870Maine $63,830South Carolina $63,790Hawaii $63,780Tennessee $63,660Alaska $63,320Wisconsin $62,740Indiana $62,580Virginia $62,560Pennsylvania $62,400Montana $61,770Utah $61,740Arizona $61,460Ohio $61,410North Carolina $61,400Kansas $61,090Alabama $61,050Florida $60,860New Mexico $60,850Louisiana $60,610Delaware $60,360Missouri $59,610Michigan $59,340Kentucky $59,240North Dakota $59,190Rhode Island $58,100Iowa $58,040West Virginia $49,800Mississippi $43,740
Working as an Interior Designer in California
Nationally, about 72,000 people work as Interior Designers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($80,230) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Interior Designer make in California?
The median Interior Designer salary in California is $80,230 per year, or about $38.57 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $50,940 at the entry level to $131,770 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Interior Designers about 19% more than the national median of $67,190. California ranks 3rd out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Interior Designers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $80,230 a year. About 8,500 Interior Designers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Interior Designer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.