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How Does An Interior Designer Get A Raise

By: Kristin Urbauer

Break Studios Contributing Writer

If you're wondering about how does an interior designer get a raise, then you first need to know some important facts about this career. Many interior designers are self-employed, making a raise a matter not of convincing the boss, but convincing the client. This can be done in a variety of manners, though results will vary depending on many factors including educational background, experience, area of the country, and individual ability to sell the idea of higher pay for superior work. Those who work for an interior design company as an interior designer can get a raise by using a variety of techniques, depending on the situation.

  1. Education. Most interior designers have a bachelor's or even a master's degree. In addition, there are apprenticeships available for interior designers just entering the field, ranging in length from 1 to 3 years, according to the United States Department of Labor. Education in computer-aided design and other technical aspects of the job are also vital for most positions in today's job market. Once these basic requirements have been met, interior designers get a raise by receiving further education or specialization. Certifications in kitchen and bath design are available. Education in architecture and engineering are also attractive advantages to employers.
  2. Be green. This is a great advantage to offer employers and clients alike. An interior designer gets a raise easily by having a selling point that makes him more attractive and more profitable than his counterparts, and green interior design knowledge and experience is definitely a selling point. The demand for green design has increased and is expected to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Ergonomic design experience makes a great match with green design and is in high demand due to the increasingly large elderly population. Present your employer with the opportunity to profit from such niches, and he is sure to see your increased worth to the company.
  3. Another way an interior designer gets a raise is by knowing when to seek new opportunities. Perhaps you work for a small firm with no opportunity for advancement within the company, or one so large that you could remain an inconsequential number for years on end. Either situation is grim, because without advancement, raises will be few and far between. In such cases, an interior designer gets a raise by choosing alternatives career paths within the interior design community. This may mean taking a teaching position at a college or university, doing freelance interior design work on the side, or moving to a higher position within a new company. Though not the easiest option, an interior designer may find that looking for new opportunities is the best way to get a raise and advance within this field.

Reference:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos293.htm

Posted on: May. 05, 2010