Interior Designer Salary in Washington, DC
Interior Designers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $79,590 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,025 take-home, or $5,085 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$8,680
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,935
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,154
- District of Columbia income tax$3,797
- Take-home pay$61,025
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Interior Designer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,520 | $22.37 | $37,934 | $3,161 |
| 25th percentile | $62,560 | $30.08 | $49,827 | $4,152 |
| Median (50th) | $79,590 | $38.26 | $61,025 | $5,085 |
| 75th percentile | $98,710 | $47.46 | $72,851 | $6,071 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,630 | $63.28 | $93,015 | $7,751 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,590 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median interior designer's $61,025 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,046 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.3× 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
Washington, DC ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $79,590 | $61,025 | $56,046 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median interior designer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $79,590 a year, or about $38.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,560 and $98,710.
What is a interior designer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $79,590 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $61,025 a year ($5,085 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,797 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a interior designer?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $67,190. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,046 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #11 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a interior designer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median interior designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Artists and Related Workers, All Other — $125,050
- Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other — $121,680
- Writer and Author — $108,460
- Art Director — $105,990
- Public Relations Specialist — $101,680
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $101,020
- Producer and Director — $100,270
- Technical Writer — $99,910
- Interpreter and Translator — $94,510
- Film and Video Editor — $91,750
- Graphic Designer — $85,420
- Editor — $84,800