How to Become an Interior Designer in Iowa (2026)

Q: How much do interior designers earn in Iowa?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), interior designers in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,040. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.72 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Iowa currently employs approximately 510 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

Iowa interior designers earn a median annual wage of $58,040 ($27.90/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 510 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -13.6% below the national median of $67,190 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,040 ($27.90/hr)
25th percentile: $47,830 per year
75th percentile: $74,590 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $118,770 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,510 per year
Workers employed in Iowa: 510
Versus national median: -13.6% below the U.S. median of $67,190
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.72 - this occupation is less concentrated in Iowa than the national average

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

Iowa employs about 510 interior designers earning a median $58,040 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most interior designers train through an approved program before entering the field in Iowa.

Compare Interior Designer Schools in Iowa

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	Northeast Iowa Community College	56.6	$6,780 - $17,838	$50,002	50%	Yes*	88 mi
2	Kirkwood Community College	56.3	Contact school for pricing	$48,663	Not reported	Yes*	90 mi
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3	Western Technical College	56.2	Contact school for pricing	$53,114	36%	Yes*	141 mi
4	Minnesota State College Southeast	51.4	Contact school for pricing	$51,496	49%	Yes*	139 mi
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5	Rochester Community and Technical College	50.7	Contact school for pricing	$55,258	27%	Yes*	119 mi
6	Des Moines Area Community College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,817	37%	Yes*	52 mi
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7	Iowa Western Community College	48.3	Contact school for pricing	$51,139	Not reported	Yes*	152 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.

Iowa employs approximately 510 interior designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,040 ¹. 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 Iowa, 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 (Iowa): $58,040 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Interior Designer in Iowa

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

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

What do interior designers earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for interior designers in Iowa is $58,040 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,510 and experienced professionals can earn $118,770 or more ¹.

How to Become an Interior Designer in Iowa

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

Interior Designers Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	270	$67,120	$71,150	$44,860	$101,440
Des Moines-West Des Moines	190	$57,840	$71,830	$44,510	$121,020
Cedar Rapids	50	$50,300	$69,600	$38,270	$123,190
Iowa City	50	$58,890	$73,070	$39,520	$117,730
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	40	$52,410	$63,310	$38,850	$104,370
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	40	$59,470	$67,540	$35,990	$115,960

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 Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 510 interior designers ¹. Nationally, interior designer employment is projected to grow 3.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do interior designers earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for interior designers in Iowa is $58,040, which is $5,450 below the national median of $63,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In Iowa

Best Trade Schools in Iowa (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)