Interior Designer Salary in Chicago, IL
Interior Designers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $76,570 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,052 take-home, or $4,921 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,015
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,747
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,110
- Illinois income tax$3,645
- Take-home pay$59,052
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interior Designer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,800 | $22.50 | $37,612 | $3,134 |
| 25th percentile | $61,240 | $29.44 | $48,500 | $4,042 |
| Median (50th) | $76,570 | $36.81 | $59,052 | $4,921 |
| 75th percentile | $94,810 | $45.58 | $70,981 | $5,915 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,990 | $63.46 | $95,092 | $7,924 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,570 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $59,052 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,002 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 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 Chicago, IL?
The median interior designer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $76,570 a year, or about $36.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,240 and $94,810.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $76,570 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,052 a year ($4,921 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,645 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,002 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Broadcast Technician — $96,060
- Technical Writer — $89,960
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Editor — $80,380
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,050
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Writer and Author — $75,940
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- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350