How to Become an Interior Designer in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do interior designers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), interior designers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $76,290.

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

Illinois currently employs approximately 2,570 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2025 to 2035.

Updated October 28, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 2,570 interior designers earning a median $76,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most interior designers train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Interior Designer Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Kishwaukee College	66.2	$4,560 in-state / $13,680 out-of-state	$49,273	45%	Yes*	64 mi
2	Waubonsee Community College	59.6	$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state	$51,678	39%	Yes*	60 mi
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3	Illinois Valley Community College	58.3	$4,200 in-state / $16,385 out-of-state	$48,989	42%	Yes*	22 mi
4	Joliet Junior College	55.1	$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state	$51,121	21%	Yes*	52 mi
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5	Kankakee Community College	53.4	$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state	$50,343	32%	Yes*	57 mi
6	Illinois Central College	50.0	$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state	$55,058	49%	Yes*	36 mi
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7	Parkland College	40.9	$4,284 in-state / $13,266 out-of-state	$47,315	32%	—	70 mi

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.

Illinois employs approximately 2,570 interior designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $76,290 ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 7,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Interior Designer in Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $76,290 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Interior Designer in Illinois

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

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

What do interior designers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for interior designers in Illinois is $76,290 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $44,620 and experienced professionals can earn $131,990 or more ¹.

How to Become an Interior Designer in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved interior designer program in Illinois 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

Interior Designers Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	2,250	$76,570	$88,220	$46,800	$131,990
St. Louis	470	$61,570	$69,320	$47,040	$101,860
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	40	$52,410	$63,310	$38,850	$104,370
Bloomington	30	$60,420	$66,210	$36,700	$113,070
Champaign-Urbana	30	$64,440	$65,800	$39,520	$92,770

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 2,570 interior designers ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035 ².

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

How much do interior designers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for interior designers in Illinois is $76,290, which is $12,800 above the national median of $63,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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	2025-2035
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 31.0 (updated 2026-10-14)