Interior Designer Salary in Portland, OR
Interior Designers in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $73,700 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,059 take-home, or $4,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,384
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,569
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,069
- Oregon income tax$5,619
- Take-home pay$55,059
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interior Designer pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,990 | $24.03 | $38,802 | $3,234 |
| 25th percentile | $60,160 | $28.92 | $46,084 | $3,840 |
| Median (50th) | $73,700 | $35.43 | $55,059 | $4,588 |
| 75th percentile | $90,910 | $43.71 | $65,660 | $5,472 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,060 | $51.47 | $75,609 | $6,301 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,700 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $55,059 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,228 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR 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
Portland, OR ranks #24 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 |
| 24 | Portland, OR | $73,700 | $55,059 | $52,228 |
*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 Portland, OR?
The median interior designer salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $73,700 a year, or about $35.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,160 and $90,910.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $73,700 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $55,059 a year ($4,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,619 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,228 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #24 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Art Director — $145,410
- Producer and Director — $88,450
- Writer and Author — $87,560
- Technical Writer — $81,540
- Public Relations Specialist — $78,380
- Graphic Designer — $75,650
- Editor — $75,430
- Interpreter and Translator — $60,960
- Coach and Scout — $48,970
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $47,040