Interior Designer salary in Columbia, SC
Interior Designers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $62,720 a year ($30.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,800 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $67,190. Pay here is 2% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $63,790. There are 0.29 interior designers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $67,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interior designers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| 25th percentile | $48,500 | $23.32 |
| Median | $62,720 | $30.15 |
| 75th percentile | $84,700 | $40.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Average (mean) | $67,820 | $32.61 |
Half of interior designers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,226.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,613.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,412.31 |
| Weekly | $1,206.15 |
| Hourly | $30.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Interior Designer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $72,400 | 260 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $64,380 | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,370 | 1,000 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $62,200 | 80 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $62,050 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $60,760 | 240 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $58,090 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for interior designers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 |
| Wyoming | $96,100 |
| California | $80,230 |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 |
| Colorado | $78,390 |
| Washington | $76,570 |
| Illinois | $76,290 |
| New York | $75,580 |
| New Jersey | $74,020 |
| Minnesota | $73,270 |
See Interior Designer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| Graphic Designer | $55,690 | $26.77 |
| Art Director | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Floral Designer | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $74,960 | $36.04 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,050 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $50,430 | $24.25 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,200 | $25.09 |
| Photographer | $36,060 | $17.34 |
| Technical Writer | $77,640 | $37.33 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $49,450 | $23.77 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $57,580 | $27.68 |
| Editor | $67,530 | $32.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1025. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for interior designers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $62,720 a year, or $30.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interior designers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of interior designers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $98,800 a year. The top 25% earn $84,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for interior designers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,720 a year, and a quarter of interior designers earn $48,500 or less.
How many interior designers work in Columbia, SC?
About 110 interior designers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.