Interior Designer Salary in India (2026): Average Salary, Top Recruiting Companies and Institutes

Interior Design is all about creating safe, functional, and aesthetically charming spaces. It is not just bound to choosing colors of walls and furniture. It's more than that in today’s world. There is a rapid demand for interior designers, as in past decades we have seen a tremendous increase in cafes, bakeries, skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, and work stations, etc. So Interior Designer is a very lucrative job in India. But how much do Interior Designers earn is the actual question? Let’s explore with this article. This article will provide you with the salary, pay scale, top colleges, etc.

Interior Designer Salary

Who is an Interior Designer?

An Interior Designer is a person who plans, designs and furnishes commercial, residential and public places. The main focus is on creating a structure that is pleasing, functional and safe for people. They also consider factors like space, lighting, materials, customer preferences, etc. The common role of an Interior Designer is conceptualization, 3D visualization, sustainability, etc.  

Average Salary of an Interior Designer in 2026 based on City

The salary of an interior designer differs from one city to another. It depends on the cost of living in a city. For instance, the cost of living in Mumbai and Bangalore is higher compared to Noida and Delhi, so the average salary of a person working in Mumbai or Bangalore will be higher as compared to that one living in Delhi and Noida.

Salaries are also higher in metro cities because there are more clients, large scale projects and high demand, high rate of infrastructural growth, etc.

Also Read: Accessory Designer Salary in India: Average Salary based on Experience, Location and Job Roles

Average Salary of an Interior Designer in 2026 based on the Experience Level

Salary of an interior designer is also dependent on the experience level of a person. If a person is experienced, he is likely to be paid more and demanded more in the market than a person with less experience.

Top Companies Hiring Interior Designers in India (2026) 

Some of the companies that recruit in the interior designing industry in India are.

• Livspace
• Pepperfry
• Ikea
• Urban Ladder
• Asian Paints
• Studio Lotus
• Homelane

Top Interior Design Colleges in India in 2026

Some of the top interior design colleges in India are.

• National Institute of Design
• Pearl Academy – Delhi and Mumbai
• Shrishti Manipal Institute, Bangalore
• Arch College of Design and Business, Jaipur
• Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai
• Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad

Factors Affecting Interior Designer Salary in India

Factors that play a major role in deciding salary of an Interior Designer are here.

1. If a person has experience of 2 to 5 years, he is likely to earn an average salary of 35,000 to 60,000. A person with more experience has higher chances of earning compared to someone with less experience.
2. The location of a job also matters. Interior designers based in metro cities have chances of earning more as compared to tier 2 cities because there are more projects and demand.
3. An interior designer should have skills like good communication, sketching, problem-solving, Sustainability awareness, etc. He should know latest software, like AutoCAD, SketchUp, etc. A person with skills will have more pay and demand in market.
4. If an interior designer has gained education from a reputed college with an appropriate specialization, he/she is likely to earn more salary. A B.Des specialization or M.Des specialisation is required to have a good job with good pay.
5. A person with a strong portfolio is likely to get a higher salary. A good portfolio should shows all projects and skills clearly and gain clients' trust.
6. If a person has specialization in luxury interiors, sustainability or commercial spaces, they will receive more pay.
7. Freelancers and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to earn more as compared to full time interior designers. But, job of freelancers and entrepreneurs is risky and fluctuates a lot.

Interior Design Colleges and Eligibility

Eligibility criteria for some of the top Interior Design colleges in India -

Interior Design is overall a rewarding job in India and is growing rapidly due to urbanization and real estate development. People are more aware of environment and want aesthetically soothing interiors with eco friendly and other modern designs. With right blend of knowledge and skill, this job can give financial and job satisfaction to people.

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