Chapter 2
Licensing and Pay
State practice acts and title acts, board fees, and Bureau of Labor Statistics wages by state.
The Licensing and Pay section explains which US jurisdictions regulate interior design, what each law restricts, and what the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that interior designers earn. CIDQ counted 29 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico with interior design legislation before Idaho became the 30th state in March 2026. Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Washington DC and Puerto Rico restrict practice or require a license for commercial work; the other regulated states protect a title such as Registered Interior Designer or Certified Interior Designer. The wage article uses the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for occupation 27-1025, which puts the national median at $67,190 and lists every state from Washington DC ($98,450 median) to Mississippi ($43,740 median). Board fees, renewal cycles and continuing education hours come from the state boards themselves.
- 2.1 Interior design license requirements by state: acts and fees 2026
Which US states license interior designers: Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, DC and Puerto Rico restrict practice, 24 more protect a title; board fees by state
- 2.2 Interior designer salary by state: BLS May 2025 wages and outlook
BLS May 2025 wages for interior designers: $67,190 national median, $114,140 at the 90th percentile, plus employment, mean and median pay for 50 states and DC