Interior Designers
Machines can already do 34% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 63%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Interior Designers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 34% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 63% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 71,500 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $67,190 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 80% for contact with people.
- Also called: Certified Kitchen Designer, Color and Materials Designer, Commercial Interior Designer, Decorating Consultant.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use computer-aided drafting (CAD) and related software to produce construction documents | 15% | 35% to 65% | |
| Select or design, and purchase furnishings, art work, and accessories | 12% | 38% to 63% | |
| Coordinate with other professionals, such as contractors, architects, engineers, and plumbers, to ensure job success | 11% | 10% to 27% | |
| Confer with client to determine factors affecting planning of interior environments, such as budget, architectural preferences, purpose, and function | 9% | 30% to 54% | |
| Advise client on interior design factors, such as space planning, layout and use of furnishings or equipment, and color coordination | 9% | 40% to 72% | |
| Render design ideas in form of paste-ups or drawings | 7% | 35% to 65% | |
| Estimate material requirements and costs, and present design to client for approval | 7% | 45% to 80% | |
| Inspect construction work on site to ensure its adherence to the design plans | 5% | 20% to 60% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills interior designers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $52,540
- Event Hosts and Emcees56% of tasks by 2035
- Public Relations Managers57% of tasks by 2035 · US median $146,910
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio62% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Interior Designers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of interior designers?
Machines can do 34% of the tasks of interior designers today and 63% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 27-1025.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Interior Designers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/interior-designers/