Interior Designer salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Interior Designers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $85,140 a year ($40.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,550 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $67,190. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $80,230. There are 0.30 interior designers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $100,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for interior designers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,440 | $30.50 |
| 25th percentile | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Median | $85,140 | $40.93 |
| 75th percentile | $100,770 | $48.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,550 | $67.09 |
| Average (mean) | $100,980 | $48.55 |
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 | $7,095 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,547.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,274.62 |
| Weekly | $1,637.31 |
| Hourly | $40.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,140 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $87,460 | 1,810 |
| 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $97,360 | $46.81 |
| Art Director | $170,140 | $81.80 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $54,530 | $26.22 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $156,950 | $75.46 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $141,310 | $67.94 |
| Floral Designer | $47,040 | $22.61 |
| Designers, All Other | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,620 | $56.55 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $57,250 | — |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 | $67.65 |
| Editor | $117,580 | $56.53 |
| Writers and Authors | $118,810 | $57.12 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $73,100 | $35.15 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $101,530 | $48.81 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for interior designers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $85,140 a year, or $40.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid interior designers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of interior designers in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $139,550 a year. The top 25% earn $100,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for interior designers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,440 a year, and a quarter of interior designers earn $76,500 or less.
How many interior designers work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 340 interior designers are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.