Interior Designer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Interior Designers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $87,460 a year ($42.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,760 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $67,190. Pay here is 9% higher than the California statewide median of $80,230. There are 0.76 interior designers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $99,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interior designers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| 25th percentile | $76,620 | $36.84 |
| Median | $87,460 | $42.05 |
| 75th percentile | $124,420 | $59.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,760 | $72.00 |
| Average (mean) | $99,350 | $47.77 |
Half of interior designers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,288.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,644.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,363.85 |
| Weekly | $1,681.92 |
| Hourly | $42.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $87,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Interior Designer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $85,140 | 340 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,640 | 820 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,000 | 3,880 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,960 | 110 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $78,000 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $77,970 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $77,690 | 300 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,780 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $76,770 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $76,090 | 340 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,290 | 100 |
| Salinas, CA | $70,630 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $65,520 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for interior designers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $98,450 |
| Wyoming | $96,100 |
| California | $80,230 |
| Massachusetts | $80,110 |
| Colorado | $78,390 |
| Washington | $76,570 |
| Illinois | $76,290 |
| New York | $75,580 |
| New Jersey | $74,020 |
| Minnesota | $73,270 |
See Interior Designer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $92,050 | $44.25 |
| Art Director | $165,210 | $79.43 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $136,770 | $65.76 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $55,960 | $26.91 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Floral Designer | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| Fashion Designer | $102,370 | $49.22 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $126,470 | $60.80 |
| Designers, All Other | $103,040 | $49.54 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,120 | $52.46 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $102,520 | $49.29 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $54,770 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $130,640 | $62.81 |
| Editor | $102,940 | $49.49 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1025. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a interior designer make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for interior designers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $87,460 a year, or $42.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interior designers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of interior designers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $149,760 a year. The top 25% earn $124,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for interior designers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,220 a year, and a quarter of interior designers earn $76,620 or less.
How many interior designers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 1,810 interior designers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.