How to Become an Interior Designer in Hawaii
Interior designers are highly qualified professionals who improve the capacity and features of interior spaces. They create spaces that are appealing, practical and safe. Interior designers may work alone or as part of a design team. Interior designers work in commercial, residential or specialized design. They must have knowledge of design elements and design software and be able to read blueprints. They must also be familiar with building and structural codes and safety regulations.
Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Hawaii
The profession of interior design is not regulated on a national level. Educational and certification or licensure requirements are handled differently in each state.
Hawaii is one of few states that do not have any license or registration requirements for interior designers. Since a formal education is necessary to know many aspects of the job, most employers will require that interior designers have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in interior design.
Expect the following topics to be covered in Interior Design program:
- Color theory
- Space planning
- Fine art
- Spatial arrangements
- Industry trends
- Computer aided design
National certification is not mandatory, but it could certainly help you, especially in a state like Hawaii where there are no set requirements.
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Interior Design Schools in Hawaii
To sit for the national certification exam, you will need to take an educational program that is accredited through the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) (CIDA). There is one CIDA-accredited program offered in Hawaii, at the Chaminade University of Honolulu. At Chaminade you can get a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Environmental + Interior Design. The BFA degree program is a combination of lecture, technical and studio courses. While enrolled in this program, students will compete in design events and prepare a design portfolio for exhibition at the end of the program.
Penn Foster College offers an online associate’s degree program in interior design that meets the education requirements for national certification. Since it is a shorter program, you will need to have more work experience in order to take the exam. Coursework includes: History of Interior Design, Architectural Lighting Design, Building Systems for Interior Designers, History of Furniture, Materials for Interiors, Residential and Commercial Design, Codes for Interiors and Professional Practice. Associate’s degrees can usually be completed within two years, but since the program at Penn Foster is an online course, the actual time it takes to complete the degree may vary.
National Certification for Interior Designers
National certification is not required to work as an interior designer in Hawaii, but it is an option that you should consider. You can obtain certification by taking the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification exam. This exam is given by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). To take the exam, you can complete any of the following education and work combinations:
- Interior design degree from a CIDA-accredited program and two years’ work experience
- Interior design degree from a non-accredited and two years’ work experience
- Any other degree plus an interior design degree and two years’ work experience
- Interior design associate’s degree (60 semester hours) and three years’ work experience
- Interior design associate’s degree (40 semester hours) and four years’ work experience
- Accredited architecture degree and three years’ work experience
There are three parts to the exam: the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX) and the Practicum (PRAC) exam. There is a $225 application fee to take all three parts, and the registration fees are as follows:
- $295 for the IDFX exam
- $350 for the IDPX exam
- $455 for the PRAC exam
You will have a 10-exam window in which you will need to complete all three sections. Once all three sections have been passed, you will receive your certification. You can keep your certification current by paying a renewal fee of $75 and completing 10 continuing education credits annually.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
The career outlook for interior designers in Hawaii reflects a highly favorable wage landscape, with the state offering an average annual salary of $61,780 for interior designers as of 2022. This figure is slightly above the national average, positioning Hawaii as one of the top-paying states for professionals in this field. The salary range in Hawaii extends from $46,430 for the lowest 10% of earners to an impressive $131,260 for the highest 10%, indicating a broad spectrum of earning potential that can vary based on experience, specialization, and location within the state.
National vs. Hawaii Salaries for Interior Designers
Location | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
---|---|---|---|
United States | $36,610 | $61,590 | $101,550 |
Hawaii | $46,430 | $61,780 | $131,260 |
Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Hawaii for Interior Designers
Region | Annual Low (10%) | Annual QL (25%) | Annual Median (50%) | Annual QU (75%) | Annual High (90%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $43,950 | $49,920 | $56,880 | $61,830 | $65,720 |
Urban Honolulu, HI | $46,590 | $47,830 | $61,780 | $81,530 | $136,510 |
Interior Designer Trends in Hawaii
The employment outlook for Interior Designers in Hawaii shows stability, with no projected growth from 2020 to 2030. The number of employed interior designers is expected to remain constant at 370 employees throughout the decade. Despite the lack of growth, there are projected to be 30 annual job openings for interior designers in Hawaii over the decade, which includes openings due to growth and replacements for vacancies created by workers leaving the field. This scenario suggests a stable job market for interior designers in Hawaii, with opportunities primarily arising from the need to replace existing positions rather than the creation of new ones.
Employement Trends
Location | Employment (Start Year) | Projected Employment (End Year) | Projected Growth | Projected Annual Job Openings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii | 370 (2020) | 370 (2030) | 0% | 30 |
United States | 94,900 (2022) | 98,700 (2032) | 4% | 9,000 |
Souces of data:
The data provided in the summaries and tables comes from the O*NET Online website, specifically from the pages detailing employment trends and wage information for Interior Designers in Hawaii and nationwide. The employment trend data is sourced from Projections Central and the wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the year 2022-2032. These sources are reputable for their comprehensive and up-to-date labor market information, including occupation-specific employment projections and wage statistics across the United States.
Working as an Interior Designer in Hawaii
As an interior designer in Hawaii, you will most likely find work in places like design firms and retail stores. Other places to work include showrooms, architectural and hospitality firms, furniture stores and contracting firms. You may also choose to work independently as a freelance interior designer. Interior designers can find more work in places such as Honolulu, Maui and Kauai. With a degree in interior design and an impressive portfolio to show off your work, you will be ready to work anywhere on the islands.
FAQs
Is Interior Design a competitive field?
Interior design is a competitive field. The more competitive interior design jobs start in the specialized areas of the industry such as commercial, residential, hospitality and healthcare interior design.