Kitchen And Bath Design Tools

Salary of a Kitchen & Bath Designer

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According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the kitchen and bath industry generates nearly $200 billion in revenue annually. To put that in perspective, it's seven times more than the movie and recording industries combined. Kitchen and bath designers work with residential and commercial clients to determine style, colors, function and layout of new or renovated kitchens and baths. Kitchen and bath designers must have expert knowledge of plumbing and electrical issues as well as architectural design. Most work for home improvement stores, interior design firms, cabinet and appliance manufacturers or kitchen and bath distributors.

Salary

Kitchen and bath designers are interior designers first.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers kitchen and bath designers a subcategory of interior designers. However, kitchen and bath designers earn more than the average interior designer. In a 2010 BLS study, interior designers reportedly earned a median annual income of $46,280. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,380, while the top 10 percent earned more than $84,900. In a 2008 NKBA survey, NKBA-certified kitchen and bath designers reported earning an average of $87,000 a year. Owners of kitchen and bath design firms earned an average of $114,000 a year, while employees of kitchen and bath distributors earned an average of $76,000 a year.

Regional Comparisons

Because kitchen and bath renovation is tied to the housing market, salaries for kitchen and bath designers are higher in regions with higher home prices. The median income for interior designs in the Washington, D.C. area is $61,000 a year. That compares to $43,500 in Florida, a state with high foreclosures rates. The median annual income for interior designers in California is $50,900, compared to $33,900 in Kentucky. Interior designers in West Virginia earn a median income of $25,000. Interior designers in New York earn $62,200.

Contributing Factors

Beauty salon managers hire professional and administrative staff.

Kitchen and bath designers with no post secondary education face difficult challenges in the industry. A bachelor's degree in design or architecture is recommended. Kitchen and bath designers who launch their own firms or create partnerships with renovation companies increase their earning potential. Certification through NKBA or the American Society of Interior Designers also increases earning potential. Owners of kitchen and bath dealerships, which distribute appliances as well as cabinets, earn an average of $118,000 a year.

Career Outlook

The available jobs for interior designers is expected to increase by 19 percent between 2010-2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Likewise, NKBA cites aging baby boomers who "have the financial means to renovate kitchens and baths to accommodate physical limitations" as a driving force behind the demand for kitchen and bath designers.

References

Resources

Writer Bio

ML Corbett covers interior design, real estate and small business, among other topics. A former day spa owner and marketing manager for an international fragrance company, Corbett knows the ins and outs of the beauty industry. Her work has appeared in "Essence," "Black Enterprise" and on HGTVGardens.com.