Salary distribution
Where Illinois interior designers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $52,700 and $79,360, with a median of $66,300.
Interior Designers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $65,500. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 1 | $56,992 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $61,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $120,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Interior Designers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| JKM Designs, Inc | Interior Designer | 1 | $80,000 |
| Chicago Roof Deck and Garden | Designer | 1 | $70,000 |
| M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. | Design Director | 1 | $120,000 |
| Tilton, Kelly Bell, PLLC | Interior Designer | 1 | $61,000 |
| Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. | Interior Design Professional | 1 | $56,992 |
| Kara Mann Design Inc | Associate Designer | 1 | $60,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Interior Designer at JKM Designs, Inc$80,000SkokieDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25352-492520
- Designer at Chicago Roof Deck and Garden$70,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-023955
- Design Director at M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc.$120,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25143-011067
- Interior Designer at Tilton, Kelly Bell, PLLC$61,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided May 2, 2025I-200-25118-909289
- Interior Design Professional at Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc.$56,992ChicagoWage Level IDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25105-868437
- Associate Designer at Kara Mann Design Inc$60,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Oct 15, 2024I-202-24281-389926
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Interior Designers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Interior Designers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $60,500.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates, Inc. | 4 | $60,500 |
| Retail and wholesale | JKM Designs, Inc | 1 | $80,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Originality
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- 02
Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
- 03
Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
- 04
Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
- 05
Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- 06
Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- 07
Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.
- 08
Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for interior designers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$69,990
Compare Interior Designers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Interior Designers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Interior Designers in Illinois is $66,300.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Interior Designers?
- The Illinois median is +1.1% versus the BLS national figure of $65,579.
- What is the salary range for Interior Designers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $41,790 and the 90th-percentile at $105,960, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Interior Designers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Interior Designers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.