Interior designer salary in Australia: where it sits on the salary index
Find out the interior designer salary in Australia, including median weekly earnings, how it compares to the national line, and what the salary index reveals about this profession.
The median full-time interior designer salary of $1,692 per week gives a salary index of about 81, meaning it sits below the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark.
What does 'interior designer salary' mean?
When you search for an interior designer salary in Australia, you are usually looking for typical pay in the occupation. The most reliable source is the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Jobs and Skills Australia, which publish median earnings for full-time non-managerial adult employees. This article uses the salary index from Salary Index to show where that pay sits relative to the national line.
The salary index explained
The salary index compares a worker's gross annual ordinary-time earnings to the national benchmark. An index of 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $2,083.70 per week, or $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). If your pay is below that, your index is under 100. For example, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 gives an index of 48.2. The index helps you see whether a salary is above or below the Australian average.
Interior designer salary data from Jobs and Skills Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia reports that interior designers (ANZSCO 2325) have median weekly earnings of $1,692 for full-time non-managerial adult employees. That works out to about $87,984 per year before tax. The median hourly rate is $42, compared to $47 for all occupations. Using the salary index, the interior designer figure gives an index of approximately 81 (1,692 ÷ 2,083.70 × 100). This is below the all-occupations median full-time earnings of $1,852 per week (index 89).
Who works as an interior designer?
The occupation is 73% female, with a median age of 40. About 70% work full-time, averaging 43 hours per week. The main industries are Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, Construction, and Retail Trade. These industry benchmarks matter: the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry has an index of 114.7, but interior designers within it may earn less than the industry average.
How interior designer pay compares on the salary index
To put the index of 81 in context:
- National line: 100 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings)
- All occupations median: 89
- Retail trade industry: 75.9
- Accommodation and food services: 72.5
- Professional, scientific and technical services: 114.7
- Health care and social assistance: 97.8
Interior designers earn more than retail and hospitality workers but less than many professional roles. The index also varies by state. For instance, the ACT has an index of 109.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. An interior designer in Canberra might earn more than one in Hobart, though the occupation data is national.
Awards, superannuation, and tax considerations
There is no single modern award that covers all interior designers. Many are employed under individual contracts or enterprise agreements. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database does not list a specific award for this occupation. However, if an award applies, the minimum rates increased by 4.75% from 1 July 2026. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week (index 48.2). Interior designers typically earn well above that.
Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, with a maximum contribution base of $270,830. For an interior designer earning $87,984, the employer would contribute about $10,558 per year to super.
For tax, the 2026–27 resident rates (excluding Medicare) are: nil up to $18,200; 15% from $18,201 to $45,000; 30% from $45,001 to $135,000; 37% from $135,001 to $190,000; and 45% above $190,000. Medicare levy is 2%. An interior designer earning $87,984 would pay roughly $18,367 in tax plus $1,760 Medicare levy, leaving about $67,857 take-home pay (ignoring HELP or other adjustments).
Where to find more information
For detailed pay guides and award coverage, visit pay guides. To compare salaries across states, see states. For industry benchmarks, go to industries. The how the index works page explains the methodology in more depth.
Summary
The interior designer salary in Australia sits at a salary index of about 81, below the national average but above minimum wage. Median weekly earnings of $1,692 reflect a profession that is predominantly female and concentrated in professional services and construction. While no specific award applies, most interior designers earn well above the national minimum. Use the salary index to benchmark any offer against the Australian line.
Questions people ask
What is the average interior designer salary in Australia?
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median weekly earnings for full-time interior designers is $1,692 (May 2025 data). This equates to an annualised salary of about $87,984 before tax. However, this is a median figure; actual salaries vary by experience, location, and employer. The salary index for this occupation is around 81, meaning it sits below the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark of $108,352 per year.
How does interior designer pay compare to other professions?
Interior designers earn less than the all-occupations median full-time earnings of $1,852 per week (index 89). They are below professionals in fields like engineering or IT, but above retail trade workers (index 75.9) and accommodation and food services (index 72.5). The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry, where many interior designers work, has a median weekly earning of $1,897 (index 114.7), but interior designers within that industry may earn less than the industry average.
What factors affect an interior designer's salary in Australia?
Key factors include experience level, location (state indices range from 88.6 in Tasmania to 109.9 in the ACT), industry sector (construction vs. retail), and whether the role is full-time or part-time. The gender pay gap is also relevant: 73% of interior designers are female, and the national median full-time earnings for women ($1,631 per week) are lower than for men ($1,841). Additionally, junior rates apply under the national minimum wage for those under 21, and superannuation guarantee of 12% applies from July 2026.