IIDA Releases 2021 Interior Design Compensation Report

Chicago, IL, April 20, 2021-The 2021 IIDA Interior Design Compensation Report, an analysis of salary and benefit information aimed at arming designers and A&D professionals with the most current metrics and data available to the industry, has been released. 

The 50-page report highlights business and employment findings to help designers value their skills and experience, negotiate salaries and raises, and make smart choices about their careers. The findings of the Compensation Report also assist leaders in hiring, recruiting talent, and making informed business decisions. 

The 2021 findings show an overall increase in average salary from the previous report in 2019, with varying degrees of increase depending on geography, certifications, and multidisciplinary abilities.

Key compensation-related results include:

* The average design professional reported an annual base salary of between $60,000 and $99,000, with higher reported salaries in the West and Northeast. 

* Employees of multidisciplinary design firms reported the highest increases in average salary, along with more desirable benefit packages.

* Those with a NCIDQ, LEED or CID certification reported a median salary $17,000 greater than those without.

The pool of over 2,000 respondents from IIDA membership who participated in the survey cover all levels of industry experience and were all full-time employees or self-employed in design or a design-related position in the United States as of September 1, 2020 or indicated they were furloughed or laid off as a result of the pandemic.

The full report is available here.