Interior Designer Salary in St. Louis, MO
Interior Designers in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $61,570 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,695 take-home, or $4,141 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median interior designer salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,208
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,817
- Medicare (1.45%)$893
- Missouri income tax$1,956
- Take-home pay$49,695
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interior Designer pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,040 | $22.62 | $38,703 | $3,225 |
| 25th percentile | $50,620 | $24.34 | $41,411 | $3,451 |
| Median (50th) | $61,570 | $29.60 | $49,695 | $4,141 |
| 75th percentile | $80,840 | $38.87 | $62,839 | $5,237 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,860 | $48.97 | $76,638 | $6,387 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,570 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $49,695 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,262 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 less concentrated in St. Louis, MO than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for interior designers, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | St. Louis, MO | $61,570 | $49,695 | $52,262 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $65,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in St. Louis, MO?
The median interior designer salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $61,570 a year, or about $29.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,620 and $80,840.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $61,570 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $49,695 a year ($4,141 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,956 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,262 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #23 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Producer and Director — $82,750
- Public Relations Specialist — $65,170
- Graphic Designer — $61,000
- Audio and Video Technician — $52,030
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,020
- Coach and Scout — $37,970
- Floral Designer — $35,430
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials — $34,360