ASID 2022 State of Interior Design Report

The interior design profession has many reasons for positivity, experiencing growth rates for employment, firms, and revenue while reversing a downward trend in completed degrees. The ASID 2022 State of Interior Design Report, part three of the three-part series Outlook and State of Interior Design Report, provides an overview of the current state of interior design.

SECTION HIGHLIGHTS

EMPLOYMENT & CONCENTRATION

Despite a sharp decline in the overall employment, total employment for the interior design profession reached a new high in 2021. Both Florida and New York saw significant year-over-year increases in employment, making them one of the top five highest employed and top five highest concentrated states for interior designers.

SALARY & WAGES

The interior design profession has shown continued and resilient growth, with annual average salaries and hourly wages continuing to see year-over-year increases. The highest paying states have a small, but weak correlation to the highest employed states with two states (California and New York) and three metropolitan areas (Boston, New York, and San Francisco) appearing on both lists. And yet, inflation continues to be a concern.

CERTIFICATION

The interior design profession experienced numerous statutory victories in 2021 and concurrently accelerated the number of NCIDQ Certificate holders. Only two states experienced year-over-year decreases. Neither offer permitting privileges.

EDUCATION

The total number of interior design and interior architecture graduates is at its highest level in over 6 years, and the interior design student population is more diverse than the current working practitioner population, providing positive momentum towards addressing a critical need for greater diversity in the profession.

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

In 2021, the number of interior design firms reached a new high. The interior design profession continues to exemplify the power of small business with more than 94% of firms having less than 10 employees.

While consumer sentiment has not fully recovered to its pre-pandemic levels, the outlook for the state of interior design – its employment, wages, education and business, is optimistic, particularly with interior designers employed in 30 distinct types of industries.