How to Become an Interior Designer in Louisiana
Some of your favorite features of your home were put there at the request of an interior designer. By understanding building codes and laws, human behavioral tendencies and the lifestyles of different people, interior designers can create spaces that are functional, convenient and enjoyable.
Interior designers may design government or religious institutions, homes, offices, retail storefronts and more.
Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in Louisiana
The Louisiana State Board of Interior Designers (LSBID) requires interior designers to complete an education program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Additionally, applicants need to complete the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam before practicing in this state. Provisions can also be made for applicants who have completed education programs which are not CIDA accredited.
You will be required to pay a licensing fee of $150 in order to register with the state as an interior designer. The annual renewal fee is also $150, and registrants are required to complete five or more hours of continuing education each year. The LSBID provides an online list of possible ways to earn continuing education hours.
Returning to school to earn a master’s degree or completing apprenticeship or internship programs will help you advance quickly within the field.
Interior Design courses may include the following topics:
- Fine art
- Light
- Interior Spaces
- Furnishings
- Textiles
- Accessories
These additions to your resume could lead to an increase in compensation due to your skillset and expertise.
Interior Design Schools in Louisiana
Enrolling in a CIDA-accredited interior design program will be one of the fastest ways to complete state registration. Consider if one of the CIDA-accredited programs below is right for you:
- Louisiana State University is located in the city of Baton Rouge. The school offers a Bachelor of Interior Design degree, which can be completed with four years of study. Tuition and fees are currently about $11,000 per year.
- Louisiana Tech University also offers a Bachelor of Interior Design, and the school is located in the city of Ruston. Tuition and fees are currently about $8,000 per year, and the degree will require four years of study to complete.
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a Bachelor of Interior Design, which will take four years to complete. Tuition and fees are currently about $9,000 per year.
National Certification for Interior Designers in Louisiana
One of the requirements for practicing as an interior designer in this state is to complete the NCIDQ exam. This exam is offered exclusively through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). The CIDQ requires those interested in certification to first earn a bachelor’s degree along with two years of work experience within the trade. If you have completed a lesser degree, the CIDQ will require that you have three-to-four years of work experience within the trade.
There are three sections of the NCIDQ exam, including the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX) and the Practicum Exam (PRAC). A $225 application fee is required and will cover all three sections. Once you receive approval, you will need to register for each section individually. The IDFX carries a registration fee of $295, the IDPX fee is $350, and the PRAC fee is $455. Upon passing all three exam sections, you will receive NCIDQ certification. To maintain certification, an annual renewal fee of $75 is required.
The CIDQ allows the option to sit for the IDFX portion of the exam on its own. This is exclusively for those who are in the final year of a bachelor’s or master’s degree program, as well as those who have completed either of these degree programs in interior design but have yet to complete work experience requirements. To sit for this portion of the exam, you will need to pay a $95 application fee as well as the registration fee of $295. You will not earn NCIDQ certification, however, until you return to complete the remaining two sections of the exam.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
The career outlook for interior designers in Louisiana showcases a competitive wage landscape, with interior designers in the state earning an average annual salary of $53,770, which is slightly below the national average of $61,590. In Louisiana, the lowest 10% of earners make $29,250 or less, while the highest 10% can earn up to $89,890 or more. This range indicates a significant potential for salary growth based on experience, specialization, and location within the state.
National vs. Louisiana Salaries for Interior Designers
| Location | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $36,610 | $61,590 | $101,550 |
| Louisiana | $29,250 | $53,770 | $89,890 |
Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Louisiana for Interior Designers
| Region | Annual Low (10%) | Annual QL (25%) | Annual Median (50%) | Annual QU (75%) | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $33,090 | $39,600 | $55,330 | $65,040 | $123,630 |
| Lafayette, LA | $27,990 | $28,990 | $41,780 | $61,160 | $72,130 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $30,280 | $38,400 | $58,140 | $73,670 | $107,530 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $27,190 | $36,170 | $42,360 | $61,060 | $77,720 |
Interior Designer Trends in Louisiana
The employment outlook for Interior Designers in Louisiana is showing a slight growth, with a projected increase of 3% from 2020 to 2030. The number of interior designers in the state is expected to rise from 350 in 2020 to 360 by 2030. Annually, there are projected to be 30 job openings in Louisiana for interior designers over the decade, which includes new positions due to growth as well as replacements for vacancies created by workers leaving the field. This data suggests a steady, albeit modest, demand for interior designers in Louisiana, reflecting the broader national trend where the employment of interior designers is expected to grow by 4% from 2022 to 2032.
Employement Trends
| Location | Employment (Start Year) | Projected Employment (End Year) | Projected Growth | Projected Annual Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 350 (2020) | 360 (2030) | 3% | 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana
You will enjoy working in this field if you appreciate watching things come together from behind-the-scenes. You will be able to witness your sketches and virtual designs manifest into kitchens, bathrooms and even museums, depending on the design work you choose to do.
Some of the highest paid Louisiana interior designers can be found working in cities like Metairie, Belle Chasse and Arabi, among others.
Architecture firms, interior design studios and home furnishing retailers are just some of the places where you can expect to find employment. You may even choose to work as a freelance interior designer and select your own desired projects, set your own prices and work on your own time.
FAQs
How much do interior designers earn in the state of Louisiana?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, interior designers in the state of Louisiana made an average of $52,370 per year in 2021. Entry-level interior designers earned around $26,060 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $98,260.