Career comparison
Architect vs. Interior Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Architects earn more at the median ($99,280 vs. $67,190), while interior designers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Architects design buildings that are safe, useful and beautiful. Interior designers design interior spaces that are functional, safe and beautiful.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Architect | Interior Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $99,280 ($47.73/hr) | $67,190 ($32.31/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $62,300 – $161,420 | $41,420 – $114,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.3% (about as fast as average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 6,900 | 7,700 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years of school plus internship | 4 years |
| Key credential | State architect license | NCIDQ Certification |
| Work setting | Architects work in studios, at client meetings and on job sites.. | Designers work in studios and offices and visit client sites, showrooms and construction projects.. |
What each job does
Architect
- Meet clients
- Develop designs
- Create drawings and models
- Coordinate engineers
- Ensure code compliance
Interior Designer
- Meet clients to define needs and budgets
- Plan space layouts
- Create drawings and 3D renderings
- Select finishes, furniture and lighting
- Follow codes and accessibility rules
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work and problem-solving. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as creativity and creativity.
Which should you choose?
Choose architect if…
- I love buildings
- I’m creative and technical
- I like drawing and modeling
Choose interior designer if…
- I love designing spaces
- I have a good eye for color and materials
- I like solving layout problems
Still torn? Take the Architect fit quiz and the Interior Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, architect or interior designer?
Architects earn more at the median: $99,280 versus $67,190 for interior designers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Interior Designers typically train faster (4 years) than architects (5–7 years of school plus internship).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects architects to grow +4.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for interior designers.