Interior Designer Salary in Detroit, MI
Interior Designers in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $59,210 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,490 take-home, or $3,957 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Detroit, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,925
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,671
- Medicare (1.45%)$859
- Michigan income tax$2,266
- Take-home pay$47,490
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,860 | $17.72 | $30,481 | $2,540 |
| 25th percentile | $47,750 | $22.96 | $38,769 | $3,231 |
| Median (50th) | $59,210 | $28.47 | $47,490 | $3,957 |
| 75th percentile | $75,640 | $36.37 | $59,079 | $4,923 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,320 | $48.23 | $75,392 | $6,283 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,210 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $47,490 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,348 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #32 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 |
| 32 | Detroit, MI | $59,210 | $47,490 | $47,348 |
*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 Detroit, MI?
The median interior designer salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $59,210 a year, or about $28.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,750 and $75,640.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $59,210 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $47,490 a year ($3,957 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,266 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,348 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #32 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Detroit, MI
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $108,180
- Art Director — $95,390
- Technical Writer — $92,390
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $77,180
- Producer and Director — $76,290
- Writer and Author — $75,760
- Public Relations Specialist — $66,100
- Editor — $65,740
- Audio and Video Technician — $62,910
- Graphic Designer — $60,210
- Coach and Scout — $46,970
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $37,970