Interior Designer Salary in Houston, TX
Interior Designers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $61,220 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,370 take-home, or $4,281 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,166
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,796
- Medicare (1.45%)$888
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,370
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,670 | $19.07 | $34,055 | $2,838 |
| 25th percentile | $48,770 | $23.45 | $41,367 | $3,447 |
| Median (50th) | $61,220 | $29.43 | $51,370 | $4,281 |
| 75th percentile | $83,490 | $40.14 | $67,565 | $5,630 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,990 | $48.07 | $79,173 | $6,598 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,220 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $51,370 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,084 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Houston, TX | $61,220 | $51,370 | $52,084 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Interior Designer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Austin, TX — $78,390
- Dallas, TX — $65,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in Houston, TX?
The median interior designer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $61,220 a year, or about $29.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,770 and $83,490.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $61,220 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $51,370 a year ($4,281 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,084 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #25 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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