How to Become an Interior Designer in South Carolina
If you are naturally creative and have a good eye for aesthetics, becoming an interior designer might be a great career option. Unlike interior decorators, who focus more on décor and the enhancement of a space, interior designers working in South Carolina have an educational background that is both technical and creative. This technical background makes it possible for interior designers to work closely with architects, contractors and design firms to ensure that the creative appeal of a residential or commercial space is also functional and safe. If you would like to work as an interior designer in South Carolina, you will need to complete a combination of educational and work experience before you can become certified.
Requirements for Becoming an Interior Designer in South Carolina
Before you can work as an interior designer in South Carolina, you will need to take the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination through the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ). If you’d like to take the NCIDQ exam and become a certified interior designer, you will need to obtain a minimum of an associate’s degree in interior design as well as four years of work experience. The more education you have, the less hands-on work experience will be required to sit for the exam. For example, if you were to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher, the length of work experience required to qualify for the NCIDQ exam would be decreased by at least two years.
Interior design firms prefer to hire those with a higher education, which is why it is highly recommended that pursues a higher education in interior design. An interior design program may cover the following the topics:
- Color
- Space planning
- Technology
- Art and furniture technology
- Graphic Design
- Lighting
- Materials and textiles
Interior Design Schools in South Carolina
There are not many interior design colleges or courses to choose from in South Carolina. However, if you’re looking to obtain a degree in interior design, there are quite a few online interior design programs available. Unlike a traditional classroom or on-campus experience, online courses will allow you to finish your degree at your own pace.
- Academy of Art University, Online. Based in San Francisco, the Academy of Art University offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Architecture and Design that can be completed online. This BFA degree will prepare students for a career as an interior designer and will satisfy the educational requirements for the NCIDQ exam. For work experience credit, the college does encourage students to obtain an internship near the end of the program. As of 2017, the yearly tuition for the Academy of Art University was $20,952.
- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). As one of the top art schools in the county, SCAD offers two online degree programs for the aspiring interior designer: a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design or a Master’s Degree in Interior Design. Both of these degree programs can be completed online and meet all educational requirements for the NCIDQ exam. The yearly tuition for full-time students is approximately $36,630.
Certification for Interior Designers in South Carolina
To qualify to sit for the NCIDQ exam, you will need to satisfy one of the following combinations of education and work experience:
- An interior design bachelor’s degree from a CIDA-accredited program plus two years full-time work experience (3,520 hours) under a certified interior designer
- An interior design bachelor’s degree that is not accredited plus two years of full-time work experience (3,520 hours) under a certified interior designer
- A bachelor’s degree (minimum) in any other major and no less than 60 semester hours of interior design work and two years full-time work experience
- An interior design associate degree (60 semester hours) and three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours) under a certified interior designer
- An interior design associate degree (40 semester hours) plus four years of full-time work experience (7,040 hours) under a certified interior designer
- A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Architecture degree with three years of full-time work experience (5,280 hours) under a certified interior designer
The NCIDQ exam is split into three sections including the Interior Design Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Interior Design Professional Exam (IDPX) and the Practicum (PRAC) exam. The fee for each section varies. The registration fee for the IDFX exam is $295, the fee for the IDPX exam is $350, and the PRAC exam has a fee of $455. For each exam cancellation, you will be required to pay an additional fee of $150.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
The salary data for interior designers in South Carolina and the United States provides insightful comparisons. In South Carolina, interior designers earn an average annual salary of $45,400, which is below the national average of $61,590. The salary range in South Carolina extends from $22,240 at the 10th percentile to $80,500 at the 90th percentile, indicating a wide range of earning potential within the state based on experience, specialization, and other factors.
National vs. South Carolina Salaries for Interior Designers
| Location | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $36,610 | $61,590 | $101,550 |
| South Carolina | $22,240 | $45,400 | $80,500 |
Salaries by Region in South Carolina for Interior Designers
| Region | Annual Low (10%) | Annual Median | Annual High (90%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $26,160 | $50,030 | $77,960 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $22,240 | $38,700 | $82,740 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $36,940 | $61,080 | $92,650 |
| Columbia, SC | $21,200 | $46,350 | $79,460 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | $20,650 | $49,700 | $80,590 |
Interior Designer Trends in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the employment outlook for Interior Designers (27-1025.00) is set for a modest increase, with a projected growth of 2% from 2020 to 2030. The number of interior designers in the state is expected to rise from 860 employees in 2020 to 880 employees by 2030. Annually, there are projected to be 80 job openings for interior designers in South Carolina during this period, which includes openings due to both industry growth and the need to replace workers leaving the profession. This growth rate is slightly below the national average of 4% for the same period, indicating a steady but modest demand for interior designers within the state.
Employement Trends
| Aspect | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Employment (2020 for SC, 2022 for US) | 860 employees | 94,900 employees |
| Projected Employment (2030 for SC, 2032 for US) | 880 employees | 98,700 employees |
| Projected Growth | 2% | 4% |
| Projected Annual Job Openings (2020-2030 for SC, 2022-2032 for US) | 80 | 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina
There are many job prospects for interior designers throughout the state, but employment opportunities are most plentiful in the cities of Charleston, Beaufort, Greenville and Columbia. Certified interior designers in South Carolina can be found working in furniture stores, in commercial and residential real estate, at upscale design firms and architecture companies. Since the college is a short drive away, interior designers located in Hilton Head or Beaufort could also choose to work as a professor of interior design at Savannah College of Art and Design. After working in the field and building your portfolio, you might also choose to work independently as a freelance interior designer.
FAQs
Is Interior Design in demand?
As the demand for renovation projects increases, homeowners and companies are expected to need services provided by interior designers to help create safe and functional spaces.