2025 Compensation & Benefits Guide delivers data on pay, benefits and workforce trends
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has released its 2025 Compensation & Benefits Guide, a comprehensive research report designed to help interior design firms and professionals navigate compensation, benefits and workforce trends shaping the industry.
Informed by data from the 2025 ASID Compensation & Benefits Survey, conducted from mid-August through early October of 2025, the guide provides timely insights into salary benchmarks, benefits offerings, labor market conditions and key drivers of job satisfaction across the interior design profession.
āIn a rapidly evolving labor market, access to reliable compensation and benefits data is critical,ā said Khoi Vo, CEO of ASID. āThis guide provides firms and designers with a clear, evidence-based understanding of how the profession is changingāso they can make informed decisions that support long-term business strength and career sustainability.ā
The 2025 Compensation & Benefits Guide analyzes salaries and benefits across a range of demographics, including gender, education, region, organization size and job level. Key findings include:
-Salaries continue to increase, though at a slower pace amid economic uncertainty. Median annual salary increased 2.1%, closely aligning with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for employed interior designers.
-Education and professional credentials correlate with high earnings. Designers with a bachelorās degree or ā and those holding NCIDQ and/or RID/CID credentialsāearn higher median salaries than those without.
-Employment status remains the largest factor influencing gender-based salary differences. While median annual salaries for women remain lower than for men, a higher percentage of women work part time, which significantly affects average annual earnings.
-Median salary ranges remain consistent across design sectors, but part-time employment varies. Smaller firms and those focused on residential design employ a higher percentage of part time employees, including retirees who have returned to the workforce.
-Health insurance and paid time off are top priorities for employees, but smaller organizations are less likely to offer those. Preferences for benefits were consistent across age and gender groups.
-Workplace flexibility and wellness-oriented perks remain highly valued. Designers favor flexible schedules, access to natural daylight, ergonomic workstations and healthy food and beverage options.
-Overall job satisfaction is strong, with employees reporting high satisfaction with theirĀ roles, teams and firms. However, satisfaction is lower when it comes to compensation and benefitsāparticularly among mid-level professionals and those in their roles for fewer than two years.
The 2025 ASID Compensation & Benefits Guide is available to ASID members as part of their membership and may be purchased by non-members. To learn more or access the report, visit: https://www.asid.org/resources/resources/view/resource-center/390
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design impacts lives. Through its programs, networks, and advocacy, ASID serves all those who are a part of the interior design profession and practice. This support extends to their membership, encompassing practitioners of all levels of training across all sectors of design, including Affiliate Members and Partners to represent all contributors of the built environment. ASID thrives on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. As a leader in shared conversations around topics that matter in design, from evidence-based and human-centric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability, ASID showcases the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.
ASID marked its 50th anniversary in 2025. Celebrating 50 years of industry leadership, ASID is committed to broadening the impact for the future of design in all of the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more atĀ asid.org.