Jobs Similar to Interior Designers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to interior designers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Graphic Designers, Fashion Designers and Set and Exhibit Designers.
Interior Designers: $67,190 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Interior Designers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic DesignersSame group | 78% | $62,960−6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Fashion DesignersSame group | 77% | $80,960+20% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Set and Exhibit DesignersSame group | 75% | $75,240+12% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Art DirectorsSame group | 75% | $114,850+71% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSame group | 75% | $39,390−41% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | 73% | $99,280+48% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 73% | $66,150−2% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Landscape Architects | 73% | $79,870+19% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Floral DesignersSame group | 71% | $37,360−44% | High school |
| 10 | Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsSame group | 71% | $102,030+52% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 70% | $97,150+45% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Commercial and Industrial DesignersSame group | 68% | $83,910+25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Photographers | 68% | $44,660−34% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Costume Attendants | 68% | $50,400−25% | High school |
| 15 | Film and Video Editors | 67% | $75,420+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSame group | 67% | $55,490−17% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Music Directors and Composers | 66% | $73,710+10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Choreographers | 65% | $55,310−18% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Video Game Designers | 64% | $104,000Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Producers and Directors | 64% | $90,360+34% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Graphic Designers
78% similar · $62,960 (−6%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Fashion Designers
77% similar · $80,960 (+20%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Set and Exhibit Designers
75% similar · $75,240 (+12%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Art Directors
75% similar · $114,850 (+71%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
75% similar · $39,390 (−41%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
73% similar · $99,280 (+48%) · Graduate degree
- 7Architectural and Civil Drafters
73% similar · $66,150 (−2%) · Training or associate
- 8Landscape Architects
73% similar · $79,870 (+19%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Floral Designers
71% similar · $37,360 (−44%) · High school · Same group
- 10Special Effects Artists and Animators
71% similar · $102,030 (+52%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
70% similar · $97,150 (+45%) · Training or associate
- 12Commercial and Industrial Designers
68% similar · $83,910 (+25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Photographers
68% similar · $44,660 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 14Costume Attendants
68% similar · $50,400 (−25%) · High school
- 15Film and Video Editors
67% similar · $75,420 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
67% similar · $55,490 (−17%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Music Directors and Composers
66% similar · $73,710 (+10%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Choreographers
65% similar · $55,310 (−18%) · Training or associate
- 19Video Game Designers
64% similar · $104,000 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Producers and Directors
64% similar · $90,360 (+34%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than interior designers.
- Art Directors75% similar · $114,850 (+71%)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators71% similar · $102,030 (+52%)
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% similar · $97,150 (+45%)
- Producers and Directors64% similar · $90,360 (+34%)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers68% similar · $83,910 (+25%)
- Fashion Designers77% similar · $80,960 (+20%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Fashion Designers77% similar · Training or associate
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers75% similar · Training or associate
- Architectural and Civil Drafters73% similar · Training or associate
- Floral Designers71% similar · High school
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance70% similar · Training or associate
- Photographers68% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for interior designers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where interior designers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like interior designers
What jobs are most similar to interior designers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Graphic Designers (78% similar), Fashion Designers (77% similar), Set and Exhibit Designers (75% similar), Art Directors (75% similar) and Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (75% similar).
Which jobs like interior designers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Art Directors ($114,850, +71%; usually a bachelor's degree), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +52%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Architects (Except Landscape and Naval) ($99,280, +48%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with interior designers ($67,190). Without more preparation than interior designers usually need: Art Directors, Special Effects Artists and Animators and Makeup Artists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.