# Interior Designers

US SOC code 27-1025. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/27-1025

Also called: Residential interior designer, Commercial interior designer, Hospitality designer, Healthcare interior designer, Workplace designer.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **71,500** US interior designers, with median pay of **$67,190** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.routledge.com/The-Women-Who-Professionalized-Interior-Design/Dedek/p/book/9780367485290) of **6,000** from 1930, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for interior designers: Practice management platforms, 2010 to 2022.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-1025&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **36.2%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Interior Designers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1905
- Latest US employment: 71,500 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $67,190 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +2.7% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [24]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 52121)
  - Employment, 2020: 26,585. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [6]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 52121 Interior designers and interior decorators, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$51,200. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [11]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 52121 Interior designers and interior decorators, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1930 | 6,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Routledge [1] |
| 1975 | 40,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Wikipedia [2] |
| 1995 | 58,000 | $30,000 (estimate) | BLS CPS [3] |
| 2003 | 46,240 | $40,120 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 46,360 | $40,670 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 50,020 | $41,350 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 52,440 | $42,260 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 52,620 | $43,970 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 53,290 | $44,950 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 46,010 | $46,180 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 40,120 | $46,280 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 40,950 | $47,620 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 40,750 | $47,600 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 43,710 | $48,500 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 45,010 | $48,400 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 51,050 | $48,840 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 53,160 | $49,810 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 56,070 | $51,500 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 57,070 | $53,370 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 60,650 | $56,040 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 59,170 | $57,060 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 61,970 | $60,340 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 64,290 | $61,590 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 67,760 | $62,510 | BLS OEWS May 2023 (employment) [4]; BLS OEWS May 2023 (pay) [9] |
| 2024 | 69,580 | $63,490 | BLS OEWS May 2024 (employment) [4]; BLS OEWS May 2024 (pay) [7] |
| 2025 | 71,500 | $67,190 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (91)

### Employment series

1. [Routledge — The Women Who Professionalized Interior Design (Dedek, 2020; early profession scale estimates)](https://www.routledge.com/The-Women-Who-Professionalized-Interior-Design/Dedek/p/book/9780367485290), Routledge / Peter Dedek
2. [Wikipedia — American Society of Interior Designers (ASID founding 1975, merger press release)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_of_Interior_Designers), Wikipedia / ASID
3. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Interior Designers (historical OOH reference, mid-1990s edition)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

7. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Interior Designers (historical wage context, mid-1990s edition)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
9. [BLS OEWS May 2023 — Interior Designers (27-1025) median annual wage $62,510](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes271025.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
10. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

12. [Encyclopedia of Design — Elsie de Wolfe: The First Interior Designer (professional practice origins)](https://encyclopedia.design/2024/03/21/elsie-de-wolfe-the-first-interior-designer/), Encyclopedia of Design
13. [Routledge — The Women Who Professionalized Interior Design (Dedek, 2020)](https://www.routledge.com/The-Women-Who-Professionalized-Interior-Design/Dedek/p/book/9780367485290), Routledge / Peter Dedek
14. [Architizer Journal — "The Software That Changed Architecture: Reflecting on AutoCAD's Legacy"](https://architizer.com/blog/practice/tools/autocad-legacy/), Architizer
15. [Scan2CAD — "How CAD Has Evolved Since 1982: Past, Present and Future"](https://www.scan2cad.com/blog/cad/cad-evolved-since-1982/), Scan2CAD
16. [Wikipedia — Autodesk 3ds Max (history and interior design applications)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_3ds_Max), Wikipedia
17. [Decoraid — Interior Design History and Origins (technology evolution section)](https://www.decoraid.com/blog/interior-design-history/), Decoraid
18. [Wikipedia — Autodesk Revit (history and acquisition)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Revit), Wikipedia
19. [Autodesk University — BIMteriors: Revit for Interior Designers (2017)](https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/class/BIMteriors-Revit-Interior-Designers-2017), Autodesk University
20. [BetaKit — Studio Designer Acquires Mydoma (2026; 20,000 designers on platform)](https://betakit.com/interior-design-project-management-platform-mydoma-acquired-by-californias-studio-designer/), BetaKit
21. [Instant Interior AI — State of Interior Design 2026: AI adoption statistics (9% to 29%; 74% plan to increase; 100-500x rendering)](https://instantinteriorai.com/blog/state-of-interior-design-2026-market-size-ai-trends-costs-statistics), Instant Interior AI
22. [Chaos Veras — AI Visualization for Architects and Designers (2025-2026)](https://www.chaos.com/veras), Chaos
23. [Decorilla — Can AI Replace Interior Designers? (2026)](https://www.decorilla.com/online-decorating/can-ai-replace-interior-designers/), Decorilla

### Forecasts and exposure studies

24. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 27-1025 Interior designers (2025: 97.1 thousand; 2035: 99.7 thousand; +2.7%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-1025&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
25. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 27-1025.00, human-rated β 0.362)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

26. [Library of Congress — "Elsie de Wolfe: America's First Interior Designer" (Headlines and Heroes blog, 2018)](https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2018/07/elsie-de-wolfe/), Library of Congress
27. [Encyclopedia of Design — Dorothy Draper (1889-1969): Rediscovering a Legend](https://encyclopedia.design/2023/03/10/dorothy-draper-american-interior-designer/), Encyclopedia of Design
28. [Wikipedia — American Society of Interior Designers (ASID founding history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Society_of_Interior_Designers), Wikipedia
29. [Metropolis Magazine — "How the National Society of Interior Designers Was Born"](https://metropolismag.com/profiles/olga-gueft-nsid-founding/), Metropolis Magazine
30. [CIDA — History (Foundation for Interior Design Education Research established 1970)](https://cida.org/cida-history), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA)
31. [CIDQ — About NCIDQ Certification (history and jurisdiction requirements)](https://www.cidq.org/for-certificate-holders/jurisdictions-and-requirements/), CIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification)
32. [ASID — 50 Years of Design (founding and merger history)](https://www.asid.org/50years), American Society of Interior Designers
33. [Business of Home — What Will Happen in 2026? 22 Design Industry Leaders Weigh In](https://businessofhome.com/articles/what-will-happen-in-2026-22-design-industry-leaders-weigh-in), Business of Home

### Predecessors & successors

34. [Routledge — The Women Who Professionalized Interior Design (Dedek, 2020; pre-professional era)](https://www.routledge.com/The-Women-Who-Professionalized-Interior-Design/Dedek/p/book/9780367485290), Routledge / Peter Dedek
35. [Encyclopedia of Design — Ruby Ross Wood: American Interior Designer (department store decorating)](https://encyclopedia.design/2021/09/18/ruby-ross-wood-1881-1950-american-interior-designer/), Encyclopedia of Design
36. [CIDA History — Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER established 1970)](https://cida.org/cida-history), CIDA

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Interior Designers (27-1025.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1025.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Interior Designers (2024-34)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Instant Interior AI — State of Interior Design 2026: Market Size, AI Trends, Costs, Statistics](https://instantinteriorai.com/blog/state-of-interior-design-2026-market-size-ai-trends-costs-statistics), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Business of Home — What Will Happen in 2026? 22 Design Industry Leaders Weigh In](https://businessofhome.com/articles/what-will-happen-in-2026-22-design-industry-leaders-weigh-in), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [CIDQ — NCIDQ Certification and Jurisdiction Requirements (2026)](https://www.cidq.org/for-certificate-holders/jurisdictions-and-requirements/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Studio Designer Acquires Mydoma — BetaKit 2026](https://betakit.com/interior-design-project-management-platform-mydoma-acquired-by-californias-studio-designer/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [REimagineHome AI Review 2026 — AI Virtual Staging Software (KDS Development)](https://www.kdsdevelopment.net/articles/reimaginehome-review-ai-virtual-staging-software), accessed 2026-05-24
- [REimagineHome AI — Best AI Interior Design Tools for Homeowners 2026](https://www.reimaginehome.ai/blogs/best-ai-interior-design-tools-2026), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Chaos Veras — AI Visualization for Architects and Designers (2025-2026)](https://www.chaos.com/veras), accessed 2026-05-24
- [illustrarch — 5 Best AI Plugins for Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp in 2026](https://illustrarch.com/artificial-intelligence/74856-ai-plugins-revit-rhino-sketchup.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [REimagineHome AI — Virtual Staging and AI Interior Design Platform (2026)](https://www.reimaginehome.ai/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Toolworthy AI — 15 Best AI Interior Design Tools 2026 (Tested & Compared)](https://www.toolworthy.ai/blog/best-ai-interior-design-tools), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.