Interior Designers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,990 or more. The middle half of interior designers in Chicago earn between $61,240 and $94,810.
- $47K10th
- $61K25th
- $77KMedian
- $95K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,220 | $7,352 | $42.41 |
| Median | $76,570 | $6,381 | $36.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,240 | $5,103 | $29.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,810 | $7,901 | $45.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Interior Designers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Interior designers in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($85,520) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($74,540). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $67,190.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $88,220 | $76,570 | $46,800 | $131,990 | 2,250 |
| Illinois | $85,520 | $76,290 | $44,620 | $131,990 | 2,570 |
| United States | $74,540 | $67,190 | $41,420 | $114,140 | 71,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Interior Designers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $88,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $66,667 a year, or $5,556 a month and $2,564 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $68,276 | $5,690 |
| Working in IL | $66,667 | $5,556 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for interior designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $88,220 buys what about $85,159 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Interior Designers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$88,220
- Bloomington$66,210
- Champaign$65,800
Highest-paying cities for interior designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($100,980).
- San Jose, CA$100,980
- San Francisco, CA$99,350
- Las Vegas, NV$92,760
- Denver, CO$89,330
- Los Angeles, CA$88,370
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Interior Designers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do interior designers make an hour in Chicago?
$42.41 an hour on average, and $36.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level interior designers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the interior designers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $66,667 a year ($5,556 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,220.
Do interior designers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($74,540).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1025; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.