Interior Designer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 28 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chevy Chase, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Silver Spring.
Also listed as: Lighting Designer
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $57,500 |
| 25th | $64,750 |
| 50th (median) | $69,500 |
| 75th | $75,675 |
| 90th | $80,937 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2023 | $67,000 | $59,040 | $78,793 | 11 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $65,858 | $58,875 | $74,341 | 14 |
| FY2026 | $69,750 | $68,370 | $77,025 | 14 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Interior Designer salary of $69,500 is worth about $63,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Interior Designers in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $79,590 in May 2025 (1,840 employed). The H-1B median here is $69,500, 13% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Kishimoto.Gordon.Dalaya | too few | 6 |
| STUDIOS Architecture | too few | 4 |
| Jimmie Drummond Projects | too few | 2 |
| Perkins & Will | too few | 2 |
| RD Jones & Associates | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $63,500 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $70,000 | 13 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $52,478 | $63,500 | 12 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $68,370 | $70,000 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.