Interior Designer Salary in Seattle, WA
Interior Designers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $78,810 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,273 take-home, or $5,356 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,508
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,886
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,143
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,273
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Interior Designer pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,540 | $29.11 | $50,824 | $4,235 |
| 25th percentile | $71,010 | $34.14 | $58,786 | $4,899 |
| Median (50th) | $78,810 | $37.89 | $64,273 | $5,356 |
| 75th percentile | $102,680 | $49.37 | $81,065 | $6,755 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,930 | $60.06 | $96,656 | $8,055 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,810 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $64,273 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,834 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.01).
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 |
*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 Seattle, WA?
The median interior designer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $78,810 a year, or about $37.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,010 and $102,680.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $78,810 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $64,273 a year ($5,356 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,834 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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