Career comparison
Architecture Professor vs. Interior Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Architecture professors earn more at the median ($96,870 vs. $67,190), while interior designers usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Architecture professors teach design studios and building science to future architects. 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
| Architecture Professor | Interior Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $96,870 | $67,190 ($32.31/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,430 – $159,030 | $41,420 – $114,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.6% (about as fast as average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 700 | 7,700 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 6–8 years | 4 years |
| Key credential | Architect license | NCIDQ Certification |
| Work setting | Faculty work in design studios, classrooms, workshops and sometimes their own practices.. | Designers work in studios and offices and visit client sites, showrooms and construction projects.. |
What each job does
Architecture Professor
- Lead design studios
- Give critiques and reviews
- Teach history, theory and technology
- Advise students
- Conduct design research
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, working with people, and indoor work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and arts, media & design, but share transferable skills such as mentoring and creativity.
Which should you choose?
Choose architecture professor if…
- I love architecture
- I enjoy critiquing design
- I want to teach and practice
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 Architecture Professor fit quiz and the Interior Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, architecture professor or interior designer?
Architecture Professors earn more at the median: $96,870 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 architecture professors (6–8 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects interior designers to grow +2.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for architecture professors.