How to hire interior designers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination. • Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function. • Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success. • Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). • Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans. • Research health and safety code requirements to inform design. • Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans. • Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong active listening, critical thinking, reading comprehension, speaking, writing and active learning skills • Working knowledge of design, customer and personal service, building and construction and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $32.31 an hour ($67,190 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for interior designers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What interior designers do
- Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
- Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function.
- Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
- Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
- Research health and safety code requirements to inform design.
- Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
- Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for interior designers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +2.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 7,700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay interior designers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 |
| California | $80,230 |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 |
| Colorado | $78,390 |
| Washington | $76,570 |
| Michigan | $59,340 |
| Rhode Island | $58,100 |
| Iowa | $58,040 |
See interior designers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Art Directors
- Craft Artists
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
- Special Effects Artists and Animators
- Artists and Related Workers, All Other
- Commercial and Industrial Designers
- Fashion Designers
- Floral Designers
- Graphic Designers
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.