California leads the nation in interior design jobs. Here's how to get the career training you need to succeed in this dynamic industry.

By Richard Barrington
RWM Columnist
May 17, 2007

Can't get enough of those interior design television shows? Are you are fascinated by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Or perhaps you prefer Trading Spaces, or its English ancestor, Changing Rooms. If these shows hold a special interest for you, then maybe you should make more out of it than an evening's entertainment. Perhaps your interest is strong enough to lead you to an interior design career.

If you have the motive, then California colleges have the means and opportunity for you to make interior design your career.

California Leads in Interior Design Jobs
Style-conscious California leads the nation in interior design jobs. It has over a thousand more interior design jobs than the second-ranked state, Florida--and the field is growing. Interior design jobs made the top 20 on a list of fastest-growing jobs compiled by the State of California's Employment Development Department.

What kinds of interior design jobs are available? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top employers in the field include:

• Specialized design services
• Architectural and engineering services
• Furniture stores
• Residential building construction
• Home furnishings stores

This list gives you a feel for the variety of ways you can pursue an interior design career. There is more than just one career path, giving you a chance to find your own niche.

The field can be artistically rewarding, but it also makes solid financial sense. The average annual wage for interior design jobs nationally is $47,010, well above the national average overall. Interior design jobs are even more lucrative in California, with an annual average salary of $52,560.

Interior Design Degrees Available
As with many things, this career starts with education--in this case, an interior design degree. You can earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in interior design. The former will get your foot in the door faster, but the latter opens up more advancement possibilities. It all depends on your career goals. In either case, interior design could be the right career, and California the right state in which to pursue it.

Sources:
State of California, Employment Development Department
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Interior Designers

About the Author
Richard Barrington is an author and freelance writer. He has written a manuscript on business communication titled "That's Not What You Said!" and a novel entitled "Spinning (out of control)".