Are you someone who loves to play with colours, patterns, and designs? Do you have a creative eye for detail? If yes, then a career in interior design might be your calling! But before diving headfirst into this exciting field, it's important to understand the Interior Designer Salary landscape in India.
As an interior designer, you can expect to earn anywhere between ₹0.3 lakhs to ₹6.2 lakhs per year. It's crucial to know this salary range before making any decisions regarding your career path.
What is interior designing?
Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using it.
Interior designers work with clients to create functional, appealing spaces by selecting appropriate colour schemes, materials, lighting, furniture, and decor. As an interior designer in India, you can work in various sectors such as residential design, commercial design, hospitality design, and retail design.
The demand for interior designers is increasing in India due to rapid urbanisation and economic growth. With more people investing in homes and offices that reflect their personality and brand image respectively, there are ample career prospects available for aspiring interior designers.
Jobs & Responsibilities in Interior Designing
As an interior designer in India, you can work as a freelancer or be employed with an architecture or interior design firm. Your responsibilities would include:
- Meeting clients to understand their requirements
- Creating 2D/3D designs using computer-aided software (CAD)
- Selecting colours/materials/furniture/fixtures/decor items within budget constraints while adhering to safety norms and building codes
- Liaise with other professionals like architects and builders, engineers and contractors or electricians, plumbers, and carpenters to ensure smooth execution of your designs on-site
Required Skills in an Interior Designer
To become successful as an interior designer in India, you need to have a blend of technical expertise and creativity. You should possess excellent communication skills to articulate your ideas effectively to clients/team members/vendors.
Other essential skills include:
- Proficiency in CAD software like AutoCAD/SketchUp/Revit/3Ds Max
- Knowledge of colours/patterns/textures/trends
- Ability to visualise 3D spaces from 2D plans
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Project management
- Budgeting
- Problem-solving
- Client management
- Team management
Interior Designer Salary Structure In Detail
Interior designer salaries vary in India depending on various factors. According to Payscale, the average salary of an interior designer in India is ₹3,72,300 per annum. However, this can vary based on the following factors:
Experience:
- Entry-level interior designers with less than one year of experience can expect to earn around ₹2,50,000 per annum.
- With 1-4 years of experience, you can expect to earn around ₹3,00,000 - ₹4,00,000 per annum.
- After gaining 5-9 years of experience as an interior designer in India, your salary may range from ₹5,00,000 - ₹8,00,000 per annum.
- Senior interior designers with over ten years of experience can earn upwards of ₹10,00,000 per annum.
Education:
- Graduates with a degree/diploma in interior design can expect to earn around ₹2.5-4 lakhs per annum.
- A master's degree in interior design or architecture could increase your earning potential by about 20%.
- Interior designers with additional certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or WELL (International WELL Building Institute) could command higher salaries.
Location:
- Interior designer salaries in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai are higher than in other cities due to higher living costs and the demand for experienced professionals.
- In Mumbai, the average salary for an interior designer is ₹4,41,378/annum.
- In Delhi, the average salary for an interior designer is ₹4 lakh/annum.
- In Bengaluru, the average salary for an interior designer is ₹3.51 lakh/year.
Company size:
Interior designers working for large companies with more than 500 employees usually earn higher salaries as compared to those working for small companies with less than 50 employees.
On average, a senior interior designer working for a large company can earn up to ₹1.5M per annum while someone with similar experience working for a small company can expect to earn around ₹800k per year.
Upskilling Opportunities
Upskilling is crucial for interior designers in India to keep themselves updated with the latest trends and technologies. Some of the upskilling opportunities available are:
- Short-term courses in specific areas like lighting design, space planning, or sustainable design.
- Attending conferences/workshops/seminars/webinars to network with industry professionals and learn about new materials/products/software/tools.
- Pursuing a master's degree in interior design/architecture to specialise in a specific area.
Certifications & Courses for Interior Designers
Some of the certifications/courses that can enhance your credibility as an interior designer are:
- NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification): An internationally recognised certification that signifies your proficiency in interior design.
- Autodesk Certification: Autodesk, which develops software programs such as AutoCAD, 3ds Max, and Revit, offers certifications that can boost your design skills and demonstrate proficiency with these tools.
- Short-term courses: Several online platforms offer short-term certificate programs on various aspects of the profession, such as colour theory, furniture design and lighting techniques. These courses are ideal for interior designers who want to improve their skills but don't have time for long-term commitments.
Design your own future
Overall, there are multiple opportunities for growth within the interior designing profession in India. With the right skill set, experience, and certification/training, you can expect a rewarding career with a promising salary package.
At WIZR, we understand the importance of staying relevant in this fast-evolving industry. Speak with our experts to learn more about the upskilling programmes and certification courses we offer to help you advance your career in interior design.
Learn about the courses you can choose after 12th grade in this article
Interior Designer Courses after 12th
FAQs
1. What are the recent trends in interior design?
Recent trends in the Indian interior design industry show a demand for smart homes, home renovation shows, and sustainable designs. The use of virtual reality in design is also on the rise.
2. What degree or certification is required to become an interior designer in India?
Most professionals hold a diploma or bachelor's degree in interior design or architecture. Certification programmes can also enhance professional credentials.
3. What are the recent trends in some popular career paths for interior designers in India?
Popular career paths for interior designers in India include working for architectural firms, real estate developers, or starting one's own design business. Teaching and consulting also offer alternative career paths.
4. How do salaries for interior designers compare to other professions in India?
Salaries for interior designers are competitive compared to other professions within the Indian market, such as graphic design or digital marketing.
5. Which companies offer good interior design salaries?
Several companies such as Livspace, HomeLane, Pepperfry, Godrej Interio, etc. offer competitive salaries and other benefits like health insurance, bonuses, etc.
