ASID Interior Design Salaries + Benefits Report Sheds Light on Industry Compensation Landscape
Study provides a comprehensive look at earnings, benefits, employee satisfaction, and more for industry professionals
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its first Interior Design Salaries and Benefits General Report. Using the results of the ASID 2018 Compensation & Fee Benchmarking Survey, the report seeks to investigate the conditions of the professional environment, the perceptions of professional development from practitioners, and the salaries and benefits that interior designers receive for the wide scope of services they provide. ASID worked with MeasuringU, a third-party research company, to develop and administer the survey and to ensure an accurate, diverse sample of surveyed industry professionals. By providing thorough, transparent insight, the ASID report will empower designers to know their worth and gain a competitive edge in the market.
Explains Randy Fiser, Hon. FASID, ASID CEO, “The interior design industry creates the experiences and environments that affect health, happiness, productivity, and more. The value of this service cannot be understated, which is why we’re so proud to release the ASID 2019 Interior Design Salaries and Benefits General Report. The report gives designers the tools they need to understand the current industry landscape and where opportunities for growth can be found. We hope that gaining access to this information will enlighten and empower the design community.”
The report delves into a broad set of topics to highlight the range of its findings. To provide context for the results, it opens with an examination of current economic conditions including employment, trade and inflation, construction, and the state of interior design. From there, it provides an overview of survey demographics, such as part vs. full-time employment, gender, race and ethnicity, age, years of experience, work region, firm size and specialty, and annual revenue.
Highlights include:
Median salary: The survey respondents receiving a salary had a median income of $70K annually, or $30 per hour for those receiving hourly wages. Median salary for sole practitioners was $50K.
Gender gap: Even though women play a huge role in the interior design industry and represent 87 percent of survey respondents, a gender gap persists at higher level jobs. Men typically hold higher level positions, and earn a median salary that is $19K higher than women.
Firm specialization: Firm specialization affects salary, with the median salary $14K higher at commercial firms than residential firms.
Education degree: Degrees make a difference in salaries, with respondents holding a Bachelor’s as their final degree reporting an average salary $17K higher than those with no degree.
NCIDQ certification: Certification makes a powerful impact. Median salary is $16K higher for those with NCIDQ certification compared to those who do not currently hold any type of certifications or credentials.
Work satisfaction: Workplace satisfaction is generally high, with office perks and employee benefits playing a part. However, professionals engaged in their day-to-day jobs find there are areas for improvement in the overall profession.
The ASID 2019 Interior Design Salaries and Benefits General Report concludes that because different paths lead to unique careers, compensation and benefits vary, but believing that the profession impacts lives is rewarding to practitioners. Knowing that the majority of professionals feel satisfaction with their organizations and current positions indicates great potential for the future of design.
The general report will be available to designers at https://www.asid.org/resources/research/interior-design-salaries-and-benefits-report-2019. In the coming months, ASID will release additional detailed reports that provide further details about career and firm findings.
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and human-centric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.
ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more at asid.org.
