Interior Designer Salary in Australia
If you're looking at an interior designer salary in Australia, the most reliable figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) via Jobs and Skills Australia. As of May 2025, the median full-time weekly earnings for interior designers is $1,692. That translates to roughly $87,984 a year before tax, or about $42 an hour based on actual hours worked.
This page reads that same pay as a year, a week and an hour, and places it against the national full-time average line.
The National Full-Time Average Line
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings report for May 2026 sets the national full-time adult ordinary-time average at $2,083.70 per week – that's about $108,352 a year on a 52-week year. This is the line the site uses as a benchmark. The interior designer median of $1,692 per week sits about 19% below that average.
It's important to keep the two figures straight: the national figure is an average (mean) of all full-time adults, while the interior designer figure is a median (middle value) for full-time non-managerial employees in that occupation. Medians are less affected by very high or low earners, so they often give a better sense of typical pay.
Yearly, Weekly and Hourly
- Yearly: $1,692 × 52 = $87,984
- Weekly: $1,692 (as reported by the ABS)
- Hourly: The ABS reports a median hourly rate of $42 for interior designers. On a standard 38-hour week, the weekly figure would imply an hourly rate of about $44.50, but the actual hours worked by full-time interior designers average 43 hours per week.
Place a salary on the line to see how any occupation compares to the national average.
How Interior Designers Compare to Other Workers
The all-employees median (including part-time and casual) is about $1,425 per week, or $74,100 a year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025). The interior designer full-time median of $1,692 is well above that. Among professionals, the median weekly earnings are $1,900, so interior designers sit a little below the professional median.
State and Territory Differences
The national full-time average varies by state. For example, the ACT has the highest average at $2,290 per week ($119,090 a year), while Tasmania has the lowest at $1,846 per week ($96,008 a year). Interior designer pay may also vary by location, but the ABS does not publish state-level medians for this specific occupation. States and territories shows how averages differ around the country.
What About Awards and Minimums?
Interior designers may be covered by the Professional Employees Award or another award depending on their role. From 1 July 2026, award minimum wages rose by 4.75%. The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week. The interior designer median hourly rate of $42 is comfortably above both.
Tax on an Interior Designer Salary
For the 2026–27 financial year, the tax-free threshold is $18,200. On a salary of $87,984, you'd pay:
- 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
- 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000 Plus the 2% Medicare levy (before any reductions). The exact amount depends on your circumstances, but the ATO provides a tax calculator.
Where the Figures Come From
The interior designer median is from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, as reported by Jobs and Skills Australia. The national average is from ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. The minimum wage is from Fair Work, effective 1 July 2026. How the figures are set explains the methodology.
Key Takeaways
- Interior designer median full-time weekly earnings: $1,692
- That's about $87,984 a year or $42 an hour (actual hours)
- The national full-time average is $2,084 per week ($108,352 a year)
- Interior designers earn below the national average but above the all-employees median
- The figure is a median, not an average, so it represents the middle of the pay range
Job medians lets you browse other occupations. About this site explains how we use ABS data to keep comparisons consistent.