Interior designer job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed interior designers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed interior designers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Imaginative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Creative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Detail-oriented
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for an interior designer
The role of an interior designer involves discovering a client’s wants and needs, creating a strategy to achieve these goals and then managing the practical aspects of transforming the space.
So, what do interior designers do in a day? An interior designer’s duties can include:
- Discovering what clients want from their space
- Establishing a brief with a client so that you understand their wants and needs
- Creating design and space planning concepts and sketches
- Recommending interior materials and features
- Staying on top of current styling trends
- Estimating timelines and budgets
- Managing client expectations
- Managing tradespeople and decorators
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Enjoyable
Visualising, designing and styling living or commercial spaces for a diverse range of clients can be exciting and rewarding, especially when you have the freedom to use your natural creativity and see that vision come to life.
Learning opportunities
Starting as an entry-level interior designer in a large company can allow you to experience and learn from senior designers. It can also open opportunities to specialise in certain types of design and find your niche in the interior design industry.
High paying
Interior design can be a lucrative career with a higher than average median salary. As designers become more experienced and build a client base, they can charge more for their services. There can also be high earning potential if you strike out and start your own business.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for an interior designer
The job outlook for interior designers is very strong and is expected to continue its rapid growth over the next five years to around 20,000 workers nationwide.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
An entry-level role as an interior designer could lead you quickly into more senior positions if you put the work in. It can also open up doors to specialist design roles and even lead to starting your own design business if that’s your dream.
Possible career paths for an interior designer:
Junior
-
Assistant interior decorator
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (MSF40118)
Mid
-
Kitchen and bathroom designer
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design (MSF40318)
-
Interior designer
Most common qualification: Diploma of Interior Design (MSF50218)
-
Interior decorator
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (MSF40118)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
To be an interior designer, you need to possess a robust set of innate skills. These soft skills can be the difference between being an okay interior designer and an outstanding one — leading to an incredibly successful career and a high earning potential.
The soft skill set of an interior designer includes:
Creativity
Creativity is a vital skill for any designer in the design industry. You need to be able to interpret the wants and needs of your client, then visualise and create an extraordinary result.
Communication
Good communication skills are essential, from the consultation with your client to how you direct tradespeople and other elements of the design production.
Attention to detail
Having a good eye for detail will mean you provide your client with a thorough and quality service. Often, designers think of small details that their clients would have never dreamed of for their design project, which significantly impacts a client’s overall experience.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
Having a good eye for detail will mean you provide your client with a thorough and quality service. Often, designers think of small details that their clients would have never dreamed of for their design project, which significantly impacts a client’s overall experience.
Technical drawing, drafting and textile design
CAD, Photoshop and other interior design programs
Building codes and standards
Project management
Design for residential and commercial interiors
Interior lighting
Artwork, soft furnishings and knowledge of design elements
How to become an interior designer
-
Offer free services
Do your friends often come to your house and comment on your style? If so, you could offer to style their living spaces for free. This can be a great way to gain some work experience, and you can showcase the results in your portfolio.
-
Study
You will generally need interior design qualifications to be hired by an interior design company. These can be gained by completing a TAFE or short course through an RTO, such as a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration MSF40118, a Diploma of Interior Design MSF50218 or an Advanced Diploma of Interior Design MSF60118.
Explore related qualifications
VET accredited interior design courses can equip you with the fundamental skills needed to gain an entry-level position as an interior designer. With flexible study options and payment plans available, you can make your training work around your schedule.
Short course in interior design
A short course in interior design can provide you with the fundamental design skills and knowledge to help you turn your home styling passion into an interior design career. It can also help you get your foot in the door with interior design firms to complete further qualifications later.
These short courses can be completed online and at your own pace, and there are often payment options available to eligible students.
1 providers offer this course
Certificate IV in Interior Decoration MSF40118
The Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (MSF40118) provides the core skills for a range of interior decorating roles. This course covers topics like communication and teamwork, consultation and problem-solving. It also focuses on strategy and design and will give a broad base of knowledge of the interior design service.
The average duration for this course is one year. You can study part-time, either online or in class. Payment concessions may be available to eligible students.
2 providers offer this course
Diploma of Interior Design MSF50218
This diploma qualification prepares you for professional interior design roles, mainly in residential buildings. The course provides a broad range of creative and technical skills in client consultation, strategy and planning, colour schemes, fabrics and fixtures, and design documentation.
The average course duration for this qualification is 18 months and can be completed part or full-time. Online learning is available, and course fee subsidies may be available to eligible students.
1 providers offer this course
Advanced Diploma of Interior Design MSF60118
This advanced diploma is for learners who have completed a Diploma of Interior Design (MSF50218) and wish to upskill and build on their existing design knowledge and skills to enhance their career prospects.
Interior designers at this level offer a complex service in design strategy and implementation for residential and commercial projects.
The average duration for this course is one year and can be completed part or full time. If required, you can study the course online, and eligible students may qualify for tuition concessions.
Related subjects
A job in interior design might be perfect for you, but jobs that involve creativity, innovation and making amazing transformations happen aren’t limited to interior design.
Other roles that might interest you:
Related articles
At this point, a career as an interior designer might sound pretty good to you. If you want to discover more about this wonderful job, you can access a massive catalogue of articles, resources, and study guides to help you get to your dream job.
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Job cluster: The Designer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
A job that requires creative vision, exceptional communication skills, strong attention to detail and a desire to create beautiful spaces requires a specific type of person.
A career in interior design would be perfect for someone with The Designer persona. The Designer loves to stay on top of current trends, has the vision and listening skills to interpret a client’s needs and is determined to produce work to the highest level.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do you need to be an interior designer?
If you wish to become an interior designer, most employers require you to have a formal education in interior design. Several courses available, from certificates to advanced diplomas, will give you the skills and knowledge for the role.
How do I start myself as an interior designer?
The best way to get started on your career in interior design is by gaining qualifications through a VET course at a design school or registered training organisation.
What do you need to become an interior designer in Australia?
When you apply for a job as an interior designer in Australia, you are far more likely to get the job if you have had prior training or experience. Studying a formal qualification through an RTO, getting an internship and practising your skills at home and for friends and family is the best place to start.