Interior designers salary in South East
Full-time average annual pay in South East
£30,243
2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£30,243
Mean
£33,693
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £30,243 |
| Mean | £33,693 |
The pay range is withheld at region level for this role. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£35,200
Employment patterns
- 81% of Interior designers work full-time
- 35% are self-employed
- 97.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Interior designers pay in South East
The typical interior designers in South East earns a median salary of £30,243 in 2025/26 — 13.5% (£4,719) below the UK-wide median of £34,962. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
Across the UK, South East ranks 7th of 11 regions for interior designers pay. Regional medians run from £25,852 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £38,329 in Scotland, a spread of £12,477 (48%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £33,693. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical interior designers in South East actually earns.
To see what £30,243 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £2,520 | £30,243 |
| Income tax | £295 | £3,535 |
| National Insurance | £118 | £1,414 |
| Take-home pay | £2,108 | £25,295 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Interior designers pay varies by region
Scotland is the highest-paying region for interior designers at £38,329 — 10% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £25,852.
UK median £34,962
| Region | Median payUK median £34,962 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £38,329 | £38,329 | £40,355 | +10% |
| North West | £37,803 | £37,803 | £45,405 | +8% |
| East of England | £35,908 | £35,908 | £37,227 | +3% |
| Wales | £33,937 | £33,937 | £34,444 | -3% |
| London | £31,110 | £31,110 | £32,020 | -11% |
| South West | £30,624 | £30,624 | £32,581 | -12% |
| South East (current region) | £30,243 | £30,243 | £33,693 | -13% |
| West Midlands | £30,007 | £30,007 | £31,717 | -14% |
| East Midlands | £27,734 | £27,734 | £31,350 | -21% |
| North East | £25,979 | £25,979 | £25,716 | -26% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,852 | £25,852 | £26,456 | -26% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland £38,329 | £38,329Mean £40,355 | +10% |
| North West £37,803 | £37,803Mean £45,405 | +8% |
| East of England £35,908 | £35,908Mean £37,227 | +3% |
| Wales £33,937 | £33,937Mean £34,444 | -3% |
| London £31,110 | £31,110Mean £32,020 | -11% |
| South West £30,624 | £30,624Mean £32,581 | -12% |
| South East (current region) £30,243 | £30,243Mean £33,693 | -13% |
| West Midlands £30,007 | £30,007Mean £31,717 | -14% |
| East Midlands £27,734 | £27,734Mean £31,350 | -21% |
| North East £25,979 | £25,979Mean £25,716 | -26% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £25,852 | £25,852Mean £26,456 | -26% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£34,962); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
How interior designers pay in South East has changed over time
Median annual pay for interior designers in South East by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
South East median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Design Occupations
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →