Interior Designer Salary in San Diego, CA
Interior Designers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $80,640 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,242 take-home, or $5,103 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,911
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,000
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,169
- California income tax$3,270
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,048
- Take-home pay$61,242
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,220 | $27.51 | $45,930 | $3,827 |
| 25th percentile | $66,360 | $31.90 | $52,541 | $4,378 |
| Median (50th) | $80,640 | $38.77 | $61,242 | $5,103 |
| 75th percentile | $94,640 | $45.50 | $69,607 | $5,801 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,970 | $51.91 | $77,572 | $6,464 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,640 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $61,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,736 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $80,640 | $61,242 | $54,736 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $80,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in San Diego, CA?
The median interior designer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $80,640 a year, or about $38.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,360 and $94,640.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $80,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $61,242 a year ($5,103 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,318 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,736 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #14 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Art Director — $126,050
- Technical Writer — $101,750
- Producer and Director — $99,520
- Public Relations Specialist — $81,240
- Editor — $78,870
- Audio and Video Technician — $59,470
- Coach and Scout — $47,230
- Floral Designer — $44,960
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $44,420
- Photographer — $44,030