Interior Designer Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Interior Designers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $80,000 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,860 take-home, or $5,072 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,770
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,960
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,160
- California income tax$3,210
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,040
- Take-home pay$60,860
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,740 | $20.07 | $34,517 | $2,876 |
| 25th percentile | $58,600 | $28.17 | $46,938 | $3,911 |
| Median (50th) | $80,000 | $38.46 | $60,860 | $5,072 |
| 75th percentile | $115,180 | $55.38 | $81,880 | $6,823 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,360 | $63.15 | $91,356 | $7,613 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,000 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $60,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,590 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #17 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 |
| 17 | Los Angeles, CA | $80,000 | $60,860 | $53,590 |
*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 California
- San Francisco, CA — $87,460
- San Diego, CA — $80,640
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median interior designer salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $80,000 a year, or about $38.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,600 and $115,180.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $80,000 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $60,860 a year ($5,072 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,250 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,590 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #17 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 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 Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Set and Exhibit Designer — $106,880
- Lighting Technician — $105,010
- Technical Writer — $104,000
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Commercial and Industrial Designer — $96,260
- Music Director and Composer — $93,090
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210