Plan, design, and furnish interiors of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Formulate design which is practical, aesthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity, selling merchandise, or improving life style. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.
U.S. Workers
69,580
Median Salary
$63,490
10-Year Growth
+3.2%
Annual Openings
7,800
Typical entry: Bachelor's degree
15 of 15 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents.
AI: Fully automatable - By 2025 AI-driven CAD tools and generative design systems can produce complete construction documents given specifications and human-verified inputs.
Advise client on interior design factors such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can generate tailored space plans, layout options, furnishings suggestions, and color palettes that meet client goals and style preferences.
Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated takeoff, cost-estimating tools tied to price databases plus presentation generators can compute material needs, costs, and produce client-ready proposals.
Research and explore the use of new materials, technologies, and products to incorporate into designs.
AI: Fully automatable - AI excels at aggregating literature, product data, and testing summaries to identify and evaluate new materials and technologies for design use.
Design spaces to be environmentally friendly, using sustainable, recycled materials when feasible.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can design for sustainability by specifying recycled materials, modeling environmental performance, and optimizing layouts for energy and resource efficiency.
Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings.
AI: Fully automatable - Generative image and CAD rendering tools can produce paste-ups, sketches, and high-fidelity renderings of design ideas end-to-end.
Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art works, and accessories.
AI: Fully automatable - By 2025 AI can generate designs, source products, and execute purchases via integrated procurement/e‑commerce workflows, so selection, design, and buying can be fully automated.
Design plans to be safe and to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
AI: Partial - AI can check designs against ADA guidelines and suggest compliant solutions, but it cannot replace professional certification and nuanced judgement required for final sign-off.
Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success.
AI: Partial - AI can assist with scheduling, documentation, and communications among professionals but cannot fully replace human coordination, negotiation, and onsite problem-solving.
Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans.
AI: Partial - AI can analyze photos, drone footage, and plans to flag deviations remotely but cannot fully replace on-site judgment, coordination with trades, and safety oversight.
Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, and purpose and function.
AI: Partial - Conversational AI can gather requirements, budgets, and preferences effectively, but nuanced negotiation, empathy, and complex decision-making still benefit from human interaction.
Review and detail shop drawings for construction plans.
AI: Partial - AI can detect clashes and suggest detailing improvements in shop drawings but often cannot fully replace the domain expertise required to finalize construction-level details.
Formulate environmental plan to be practical, esthetic, and conducive to intended purposes, such as raising productivity or selling merchandise.
AI: Partial - AI can propose practical, aesthetic environmental plans and simulate outcomes, but tailoring strategies to complex organizational goals and stakeholder buy-in remains partly human-led.
Subcontract fabrication, installation, and arrangement of carpeting, fixtures, accessories, draperies, paint and wall coverings, art work, furniture, and related items.
AI: Partial - AI can identify vendors, generate contracts, and coordinate schedules but cannot physically perform or fully verify fabrication, installation, and arrangement without human oversight.
Plan and design interior environments for boats, planes, buses, trains, and other enclosed spaces.
AI: Partial - AI can produce layouts, CAD, and ergonomic/esthetic proposals for vehicle interiors, but regulatory, safety, and engineering sign‑offs limit complete automation.