Interior Designer Salary in Denver, CO
Interior Designers in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $80,150 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,397 take-home, or $5,200 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,803
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,969
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,162
- Colorado income tax$2,818
- Take-home pay$62,397
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,000 | $23.56 | $40,104 | $3,342 |
| 25th percentile | $62,640 | $30.12 | $50,463 | $4,205 |
| Median (50th) | $80,150 | $38.53 | $62,397 | $5,200 |
| 75th percentile | $104,820 | $50.39 | $78,667 | $6,556 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,810 | $64.33 | $97,546 | $8,129 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,150 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $62,397 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,987 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 2.0× the national concentration of interior designer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #4 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 Denver, CO?
The median interior designer salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $80,150 a year, or about $38.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,640 and $104,820.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $80,150 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $62,397 a year ($5,200 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,818 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,987 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #4 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Technical Writer — $103,360
- Art Director — $99,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $82,930
- Producer and Director — $80,590
- Editor — $78,670
- Broadcast Technician — $78,050
- Interpreter and Translator — $74,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,500
- Writer and Author — $69,100
- Audio and Video Technician — $57,970
- Photographer — $47,340
- Coach and Scout — $47,110