$62,455.

That’s the median income for U.S. interior designers with 20 or more years experience, according to a survey by Payscale, Inc., the world’s largest database of
compensation data.

Those in the design business for 10-19 years have a median income of $52,671, Payscale reports. For 5-9 years experience, the number is $46,893.

Meanwhile, 1-4 years experience puts your median income at $35,917. And those with less than a year in the business can figure on a median of $32,786.

Pretty low numbers, don’t you think?

Granted, these are “medians.” That means half the designers in each category earn more, half less.

Still, my takeaway is that design professionals earn considerably less than they deserve.

They work way too hard to make so little. They’re three times as skilled as professionals in other fields who earn six times more money.

Problem is, design clients don’t “get” it. They don’t understand the invaluable service that designers provide.

Bottom line: design pros need to do a better job of educating their clients about their value.