Interior Decorating Rates

Interior decorating rates and pay schedules vary.

The American interior design industry is a multi-billion dollar business. In 2008, more than 71,000 people made their living as professional interior designers, but there is no real standard rate for their services. The qualifications, specialties, and experience of these workers vary greatly and so do their asking rates.

Rate Structures

Most interior decorators use some combination of three basic methods to assess fees. One approach is to charge clients by the hour. Another is to quote clients a flat rate. This rate may be based on square footage or the complexity of the project. Some designers also receive a commission on the goods and services the client purchases.

Typical Ranges

Costs vary greatly. Location, a designer's experience and reputation, and the size of the project all play a role in pricing. Cost Helper, a major shopping and cost information website, reports that a typical interior design project can cost between $500 and $10,000 or more. According to the same source, hourly rates range from $35 to $500.

Interior Decorator Earnings

In addition to the billable hours designers rack up working on projects, they must also spend time performing business administrative tasks such as marketing and bookkeeping. Because of this, a designer's actual hourly wage is usually much less than his hourly rate. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly wage for an interior designer was about $25 in 2009.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Interior Designers Occupation Profile
• Cost Helper: Interior Decorator Cost
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Interior Designers Occupational Employment and Wages
• Hoovers: Interior Design Services Industry Description