Interior Designer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Interior Designers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $61,670 a year ($29.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,390 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $67,190. Pay here is about the same as the North Carolina statewide median of $61,400. There are 0.47 interior designers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interior designers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| 25th percentile | $53,150 | $25.55 |
| Median | $61,670 | $29.65 |
| 75th percentile | $78,970 | $37.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,390 | $42.97 |
| Average (mean) | $65,760 | $31.61 |
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 | $5,139.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,569.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,371.92 |
| Weekly | $1,185.96 |
| Hourly | $29.65 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $77,590 | 30 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $64,480 | 470 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $64,370 | 1,000 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $61,830 | 80 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $61,300 | 170 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $60,250 | 60 |
| Asheville, NC | $60,160 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $59,920 | 240 |
| Greenville, NC | $56,990 | 30 |
| Wilmington, NC | $47,750 | 140 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Art Director | $93,740 | $45.07 |
| Floral Designer | $35,930 | $17.28 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $88,190 | $42.40 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $109,320 | $52.56 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $76,970 | $37.01 |
| Technical Writer | $94,520 | $45.44 |
| Producers and Directors | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Editor | $80,410 | $38.66 |
| Photographer | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $49,940 | $24.01 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Writers and Authors | $84,130 | $40.45 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for interior designers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $61,670 a year, or $29.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interior designers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of interior designers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $89,390 a year. The top 25% earn $78,970 or more.
What is the starting pay for interior designers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,100 a year, and a quarter of interior designers earn $53,150 or less.
How many interior designers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 160 interior designers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.