What is the best state to be a interior designers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a interior designers: a BLS median of $96,100 is worth $103,678 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 157.8 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a interior designers at $98,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 49 on real pay (index 128.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a interior designers salary go least far?

Mississippi ranks last of 49 states for a interior designers: a $43,740 BLS median is worth only $49,016 after tax and cost of living (index 74.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Interior Designers

Best States to Be a Interior Designers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a interior designers salary goes furthest in Wyoming — a $96,100 BLS median worth $103,678 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 157.8).

Which US states are best for a interior designers after cost of living and tax?

For a interior designers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Wyoming #1: a $96,100 BLS median becomes $103,678 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 157.8). Mississippi ranks last ($49,016, index 74.6). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 49 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Wyoming ranks #1 of 49 states for a interior designers. Index 100 = the average state; 157.8 means pay goes 57.8% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

157.8

Interior Designers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Wyoming	$96,100	—	92.7	$103,678	157.8
2	District of Columbia	$98,450	$5,493	109.9	$84,582	128.7
3	Arkansas	$69,990	$2,521	86.9	$77,607	118.1
4	Oklahoma	$68,520	$2,717	87.8	$74,910	114.0
5	South Dakota	$65,220	—	88.6	$73,623	112.1
6	Colorado	$78,390	$2,789	103.1	$73,362	111.7
7	Illinois	$76,290	$3,635	100.0	$72,685	110.6
8	Massachusetts	$80,110	$3,786	105.8	$72,170	109.8
9	Washington	$76,570	—	107.0	$71,552	108.9
10	Georgia	$71,760	$3,221	96.3	$71,177	108.3
11	Minnesota	$73,270	$3,493	98.6	$70,752	107.7
12	Nebraska	$64,870	$2,277	90.1	$69,468	105.7
13	California	$80,230	$3,340	110.7	$69,446	105.7
14	Tennessee	$63,660	—	91.9	$69,294	105.5
15	Texas	$65,160	—	97.1	$67,136	102.2
16	Louisiana	$60,610	$1,443	88.2	$67,077	102.1
17	New York	$75,580	$3,552	107.9	$66,742	101.6
18	North Dakota	$59,190	—	89.0	$66,536	101.3
19	New Jersey	$74,020	$2,542	108.8	$65,694	100.0
20	Alabama	$61,050	$2,788	88.8	$65,594	99.8
21	South Carolina	$63,790	$2,348	93.7	$65,539	99.7
22	Ohio	$61,410	$906	92.8	$65,216	99.3
23	Indiana	$62,580	$1,847	93.3	$65,074	99.0
24	Kansas	$61,090	$2,609	90.1	$64,930	98.8
25	Wisconsin	$62,740	$2,173	94.1	$64,368	98.0
26	New Mexico	$60,850	$1,746	92.2	$64,096	97.6
27	Iowa	$58,040	$2,166	87.8	$63,666	96.9
28	Missouri	$59,610	$1,921	90.8	$63,523	96.7
29	Vermont	$63,870	$1,834	98.0	$63,330	96.4
30	Kentucky	$59,240	$2,239	90.2	$63,223	96.2
31	Maine	$63,830	$2,694	97.0	$62,995	95.9
32	Connecticut	$67,330	$2,128	103.6	$62,930	95.8
33	North Carolina	$61,400	$2,068	94.3	$62,901	95.7
34	Montana	$61,770	$2,506	94.6	$62,617	95.3
35	Pennsylvania	$62,400	$1,916	97.6	$61,989	94.3
36	Alaska	$63,320	—	102.4	$61,861	94.2
37	New Hampshire	$64,140	—	104.2	$61,575	93.7
38	Arizona	$61,460	$1,062	100.7	$59,992	91.3
39	Utah	$61,740	$2,809	98.9	$59,608	90.7
40	Maryland	$65,070	$2,758	105.0	$59,368	90.4
41	Oregon	$66,350	$5,002	103.4	$59,354	90.3
42	Michigan	$59,340	$2,275	96.2	$59,308	90.3
43	Virginia	$62,560	$2,797	101.1	$59,110	90.0
44	Florida	$60,860	—	103.4	$58,851	89.6
45	Delaware	$60,360	$2,673	99.8	$57,798	88.0
46	Rhode Island	$58,100	$1,579	102.3	$55,261	84.1
47	Hawaii	$63,780	$3,317	110.0	$54,991	83.7
48	West Virginia	$49,800	$1,512	89.5	$53,955	82.1
49	Mississippi	$43,740	$1,119	87.0	$49,016	74.6

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 49 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Wyoming, a $96,100 salary is worth about $103,678 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $96,100 · BEA cost of living 92.7 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $108,482, a $4,804 gain over Wyoming.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$108,482	88.6
2	Arkansas	$106,229	86.9
3	Louisiana	$105,680	88.2
4	Mississippi	$105,657	87.0
5	Iowa	$105,340	87.8
6	North Dakota	$105,327	89.0
7	Tennessee	$104,604	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$104,203	87.8
9	Wyoming	$103,678	92.7
10	Alabama	$102,783	88.8
11	Kentucky	$102,326	90.2
12	West Virginia	$102,202	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Interior Designers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a interior designers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Wyoming is the best state for a interior designers: a BLS median of $96,100 is worth $103,678 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 92.7), an index of 157.8 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a interior designers at $98,450, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #2 of 49 on real pay (index 128.7). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a interior designers salary go least far?: Mississippi ranks last of 49 states for a interior designers: a $43,740 BLS median is worth only $49,016 after tax and cost of living (index 74.6). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a interior designers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.