Interior Designer Salary in Boston, MA
Interior Designers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $81,480 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,297 take-home, or $5,191 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,096
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,052
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,181
- Massachusetts income tax$3,854
- Take-home pay$62,297
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interior Designer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,570 | $25.27 | $42,011 | $3,501 |
| 25th percentile | $62,610 | $30.10 | $49,577 | $4,131 |
| Median (50th) | $81,480 | $39.17 | $62,297 | $5,191 |
| 75th percentile | $95,410 | $45.87 | $71,400 | $5,950 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,240 | $60.21 | $90,826 | $7,569 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,480 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $62,297 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,541 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Interior Designer jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #6 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $78,390 | $63,977 | $65,239 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $79,720 | $64,913 | $64,774 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $69,770 | $57,913 | $60,115 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $80,150 | $62,397 | $58,987 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $78,810 | $64,273 | $57,834 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $81,480 | $62,297 | $57,541 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $76,570 | $59,052 | $57,002 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $72,490 | $56,687 | $56,654 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in Boston, MA?
The median interior designer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $81,480 a year, or about $39.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,610 and $95,410.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $81,480 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $62,297 a year ($5,191 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,854 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,541 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #6 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Art Director — $151,820
- Technical Writer — $111,750
- Fashion Designer — $106,630
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $102,530
- Editor — $86,410
- Writer and Author — $85,260
- Producer and Director — $83,850
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,440
- Graphic Designer — $78,270
- Interpreter and Translator — $75,120
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $62,750
- Coach and Scout — $56,220