Design Professionals

How to become an Interior Designer

Plans, designs, details and coordinates the construction of commercial, residential, institutional, recreational and temporary interior spaces to transform an environment and improve its performance, experience, meaning or purpose.

Main tasks

Consults and coordinates with clients, stakeholders, users and specialist consultants to determine objectives and constraints on interior design projects
Researches and analyses spatial, functional, economic, ergonomic, comfort, safety, sustainability, inclusivity and aesthetic requirements of interior spaces
Creates designs that encourage and facilitate optimal use of a space by inhabitants
Generates presentations, renderings and 3D visualisations to illustrate interior design concepts
Communicates ideas to clients, stakeholders and collaborators using CAD software and other visualisation tools to develop realistic representations of proposed interior designs
Selects materials, finishes, furnishings and decorative elements to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the space
Details and documents new interior building work for construction to comply with required building codes, standards and authorities
Collaborates with Architects, contractors, vendors and suppliers to ensure that designs are executed according to specifications, budget and time constraints

Ways in

University: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design (MSF40318); Diploma of Interior Design (MSF50222); Advanced Diploma of Interior Design (MSF60122); Certificate III in Interior Decoration Retail Services (MSF31018); Certificate IV in Design (CUA40720); Certificate IV in Interior Decoration (MSF40122)
Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $87,984 a year
About 19,000 people work in this job group now, and about 22,800 are projected by 2035. (+20%)
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Interior Designer?

Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design; Diploma of Interior Design.

How much does an Interior Designer earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $87,984 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Interior Designer a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2035, from about 19,000 to about 22,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Interior Designer?

Not always. 55% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Creative Arts & Design degrees; Certificate IV in Kitchen and Bathroom Design; Diploma of Interior Design.

Will AI change the work of an Interior Designer?

AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04