Interior Designer salary in Wilmington, NC
Interior Designers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $47,750 a year ($22.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,210 for the top 10%. That is 29% lower than the national median of $67,190. Pay here is 22% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $61,400. There are 0.71 interior designers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $54,490, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interior designers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 25th percentile | $41,470 | $19.94 |
| Median | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| 75th percentile | $60,990 | $29.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Average (mean) | $54,490 | $26.20 |
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 | $3,979.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,989.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,836.54 |
| Weekly | $918.27 |
| Hourly | $22.96 |
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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $61,670 | 160 |
| 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 |
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 Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $54,720 | $26.31 |
| Floral Designer | $39,740 | $19.11 |
| Art Director | $84,730 | $40.74 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $63,620 | $30.59 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $43,960 | — |
| Writers and Authors | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Producers and Directors | $61,120 | $29.39 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $43,880 | $21.09 |
| Photographer | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Technical Writer | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | $39,800 | $19.14 |
| Broadcast Technician | $41,000 | $19.71 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for interior designers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $47,750 a year, or $22.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interior designers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of interior designers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $78,210 a year. The top 25% earn $60,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for interior designers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,590 a year, and a quarter of interior designers earn $41,470 or less.
How many interior designers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 140 interior designers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.