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Interior Designer.

Austin.

$67,000

median salary, 6% above the national average

$53,000 to $86,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Interior Designer pay in Austin ranges from $53,000 to $86,000 in 2026. The median is $67,000, 6% above the national average. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$53,000

per year

Median

$67,000

per year

75th Percentile

$86,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$53,000$86,000

Orbyt estimate for Interior Designer in Austin, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $78,390 for Interior Designers (SOC 27-1025) in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area, based on 1,090 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$49,110

25th percentile

$59,390

Median

$78,390

75th percentile

$84,660

90th percentile

$110,570

Workers surveyed

1,090

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Interior Designers (SOC 27-1025) rather than Interior Designer specifically. The Austin range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 27-1025

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $60,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$44,000

to $54,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$57,000

to $70,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$74,000

to $87,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$84,000

to $104,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $19,000 to the total package.

Base

$67,000

Equity

$11,000

Bonus

$7,000

Signing

$1,000

Estimated total: $86,000

How Austin compares.

Austin, TX

$67,000

Cost of living: 3% above average

National Average

$63,000

Austin is $4,000 above

Interior Designer salary by city.

Interior Designer salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$88,000$70,000 to $113,0001.35x$65,000
San Jose, CA$87,000$69,000 to $112,0001.38x$63,000
Honolulu, HI$82,000$65,000 to $105,0001.30x$63,000
New York, NY$81,000$65,000 to $105,0001.28x$63,000
Seattle, WA$81,000$64,000 to $104,0001.24x$65,000
Boston, MA$80,000$63,000 to $103,0001.22x$66,000
Washington DC, DC$79,000$63,000 to $101,0001.25x$63,000
Los Angeles, CA$74,000$58,000 to $95,0001.18x$63,000
Newark, NJ$74,000$59,000 to $96,0001.18x$63,000
Austin, TX$67,000$53,000 to $86,0001.03x$65,000

See all 81 cities for Interior Designer →

Salary by role in Austin.

Salary comparison by role in Austin
RoleMedianRange
CTO$318,000$248,000 to $414,000
CEO$289,000$210,000 to $399,000
General Counsel$288,000$225,000 to $375,000
Interior Designer$67,000$53,000 to $86,000
Surgical Technologist$67,000$55,000 to $82,000
School Counselor$66,000$52,000 to $84,000
Electrician$64,000$51,000 to $85,000
Plumber$64,000$49,000 to $83,000

What you should know.

If you are interviewing for Interior Designer roles in Austin, here is what you are walking into. Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. Salaries have risen sharply over the past five years, narrowing the gap with coastal cities. Specialization in commercial, hospitality, or healthcare interiors drives higher pay than residential work. Designers with NCIDQ certification, proficiency in Revit and 3D visualization, and a portfolio of large-scale projects earn at the top of the range in major metros.

Junior Interior Designers start at $46,000 to $54,000. Mid-level designers managing client relationships and full projects earn $58,000 to $72,000. Senior Designers and Design Directors reach $75,000 to $95,000, with firm principals and celebrity designers earning well above $120,000. In Austin, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Self-employed interior designers often earn more through markup on furnishings and materials, adding 20 to 35% to effective income. Salaried roles may include bonuses of 5 to 10% and trade account access for personal projects. And on the tax side: texas has no state income tax, which can mean 5 to 10% more take home pay compared to California roles. Property taxes are above average, however, running about 1.8% of home value. When someone quotes you $67,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the no income tax advantage as a negotiation lever. Ask employers to match 90% of a Bay Area offer and show that your net pay will actually be higher. The range for Interior Designers in Austin runs from $53,000 to $86,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$53,000

Median

$67,000

75th

$86,000

Considering a related role?

  • A School Counselor in Austin earns $66,000 (1% less)
  • The highest-paying role in Austin is CTO at $318,000

Common questions.

Commercial interior designers, especially those specializing in hospitality, healthcare, or corporate workspace design, typically earn 15 to 30% more than residential designers. Commercial projects are larger in scope and involve higher budgets and longer timelines.

NCIDQ-certified designers earn 10 to 20% more than non-certified peers. The certification is required for licensure in most states and demonstrates competency in building codes, accessibility, and professional practice standards valued by employers.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to an Interior Designer's base salary in Austin. Specifically, specialization in commercial, hospitality, or healthcare interiors drives higher pay than residential work. In a market where the range spans $53,000 to $86,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the median and the top of the range.

Self-employed interior designers often earn more through markup on furnishings and materials, adding 20 to 35% to effective income. Salaried roles may include bonuses of 5 to 10% and trade account access for personal projects. In Austin's market, the base range of $53,000 to $86,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

Interior Designer compensation in Austin has trended upward as demand outpaces supply. The 2026 range of $53,000 to $86,000 reflects a market that rewards specialization. Specialization in commercial, hospitality, or healthcare interiors drives higher pay than residential work.

Austin has transformed into one of America's fastest growing tech hubs, attracting relocations from Apple, Tesla, Oracle, and Samsung. The city's combination of no state income tax, a vibrant startup scene, and a strong university pipeline makes it highly competitive. For Interior Designers specifically, the median salary of $67,000 reflects that demand.

Austin's economy is driven by Technology, Semiconductors, Clean Energy, and Healthcare. Interior Designers are hired across these sectors, though compensation can vary 15 to 25% between industries. Company size and funding stage also influence total packages significantly.

Interior Designer salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Austin.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Interior Designer Salary in Austin, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/interior-designer/austin

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