How to Become an Interior Designer in Colorado (2026)

Q: How much do interior designers earn in Colorado?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), interior designers in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $78,390. Employment concentration in Colorado is about 1.74 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for interior designers in Colorado?

Colorado currently employs approximately 2,300 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado interior designers earn a median annual wage of $78,390 ($37.69/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 16.7% above the national median of $67,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $78,390 ($37.69/hr)
25th percentile: $61,790 per year
75th percentile: $102,510 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $133,810 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,830 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 2,300
Versus national median: 16.7% above the U.S. median of $67,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.74 - this occupation is more concentrated in Colorado than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Colorado employs about 2,300 interior designers earning a median $78,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most interior designers train through an approved program before entering the field in Colorado.

Compare Interior Designer Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Technical College of the Rockies	84.8	Contact school for pricing	$47,355	96%	—	150 mi
2	Red Rocks Community College	64.2	Contact school for pricing	$62,695	35%	Yes*	22 mi
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3	Casper College	62.5	Contact school for pricing	$46,963	Not reported	Yes*	218 mi
4	Front Range Community College	61.3	Contact school for pricing	$50,353	32%	Yes*	31 mi
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5	Arapahoe Community College	57.3	Contact school for pricing	$57,589	Not reported	Yes*	31 mi
6	Trinidad State College	54.1	Contact school for pricing	$49,758	55%	Yes*	186 mi
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7	Aims Community College	52.8	Contact school for pricing	$51,704	Not reported	Yes*	62 mi
8	Colorado Mountain College	52.3	$2,616 - $14,799	$55,406	27%	Yes*	94 mi
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9	Pikes Peak State College	50.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,538	22%	Yes*	79 mi
10	Community College of Denver	37.0	$4,902 - $19,550	$53,984	18%	Yes*	31 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Colorado employs approximately 2,300 interior designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of interior designer jobs is 1.74x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Interior Designer in Colorado, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Colorado): $78,390 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Interior Designer in Colorado

How to become an Interior Designer in Colorado? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for interior designers in Colorado.

How long does it take? interior designer training length in Colorado varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do interior designers earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for interior designers in Colorado is $78,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,830 and experienced professionals can earn $133,810 or more ¹.

How to Become an Interior Designer in Colorado

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Colorado training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved interior designer program in Colorado that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to interior designers in Colorado before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Interior Designer Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Interior Designers Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), interior designers wages in Colorado vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	1,500	$80,150	$89,330	$49,000	$133,810
Colorado Springs	130	$66,440	$72,260	$36,510	$112,100
Fort Collins-Loveland	110	$76,800	$79,100	$44,790	$122,550
Boulder	90	$80,850	$81,650	$54,730	$110,490
Greeley	40	$68,080	$69,420	$45,610	$95,340

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for interior designers in Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 2,300 interior designers ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Colorado? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Colorado.

How much do interior designers earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for interior designers in Colorado is $78,390, which is $14,900 above the national median of $63,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In Colorado

Best Trade Schools in Colorado (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)