Interior Design salaries
in New York - 2026
The average salary for an Interior Designer in New York is $123,000 per year.
Find out how much Interior Designers earn in 2026 in New York across all levels, from Interior Designer to Principal. Trusted by top New York interior design firms.
Based on data from 3,000+ active job vacancies, 1,890 survey respondents and insights from 65 recruitment experts.
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Interior Design Salaries New York 2026
Interior Design
| Job Title | $ Low | $ Avg | $ High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Architect (0-3 yrs) | 65,000 | 76,000 | 85,000 |
| Interior Architect (4-7 yrs) | 90,000 | 109,000 | 120,000 |
| Interior Architect (8+ yrs) | 100,000 | 120,000 | 130,000 |
| Interior Designer (0-3 yrs) | 65,000 | 76,000 | 85,000 |
| Interior Designer (4-7 yrs) | 80,000 | 105,000 | 115,000 |
| Interior Designer (8-11 yrs) | 120,000 | 122,000 | 130,000 |
| Interior Designer (12+ yrs) | 125,000 | 140,000 | 160,000 |
| Project Manager | 90,000 | 105,000 | 130,000 |
| FF&E Specialist | 90,000 | 110,000 | 125,000 |
| Director of Design/Studio Director | 150,000 | 175,000 | 210,000 |
| Principal | 180,000 | 210,000 | 250,000 |
Our salary data draws on input from over 1,890 survey respondents, 1,200 recent placements, 3,000 job listings and insight from 65 recruitment experts.
Interior designers in New York typically earn more at larger studios, thanks to structured pay and higher-profile projects. But smaller practices offer broader experience, closer director access, more creative influence and faster progression. Pay might be lower, but the hands-on exposure and autonomy can outweigh the difference, especially early in your career.
Yes. Contract roles often pay 5-10% more than permanent ones. To find out more about contracting head here.
Luxury residential, high-end hospitality, and commercial interior design typically offer the highest salaries in New York, particularly for senior designers, FF&E specialists and studio directors working on prestige projects.
Many interior design roles in New York offer bonuses or commissions on top of base salaries, especially for senior and director-level positions.
Interior designers in New York earn among the highest salaries in the US, reflecting the city's high cost of living and concentration of luxury and high-end design studios. Salaries are typically above Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin and most other major markets, particularly at senior and principal level.
The average salary for an Interior Designer in New York is approximately $123,000 per year. Entry-level designers (0–3 yrs) earn around $76,000, rising to $105,000–$122,000 at mid-career. Directors of Design and Studio Directors average $175,000, with Principals reaching $210,000 on average.
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