Which award covers interior designers?

Most interior designers are classified under the Professional Employees Award 2020. The award sets minimum classification rates, allowances, and penalty rates. Use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or check the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database for your exact classification and rate.

How does superannuation work for interior designers?

Employers must pay the super guarantee of 12% on top of your ordinary time earnings. This is a separate payment on top of your gross salary. For example, if your weekly ordinary earnings are $1,692, the employer pays an extra $203.04 into your super fund.

Can an interior designer be paid less than the national minimum wage?

Yes, if you are a junior, apprentice, trainee, or on an introductory rate under an award. For award-free employees, junior percentages apply (e.g., under 16: $9.73 per hour). But most adult interior designers covered by an award must be paid at least the award’s minimum classification rate, which is usually higher than the national minimum.

Interior Designer Salary: Legal Minimums, Award Rates, and Median Earnings

The legal minimum for an award-free adult interior designer is the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), but most interior designers are covered by a modern award that sets higher classification rates; the ABS reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,692.

Understanding the Interior Designer Salary in Australia

If you are researching the interior designer salary in Australia, you need to separate the legal minimum from survey averages, award rates, and negotiated salaries. This guide uses the latest public figures from the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to give you a clear picture.

The Legal Minimum Pay Floor

For any employee not covered by a modern award or enterprise agreement, the national minimum wage applies. From 1 July 2026, the Fair Work Commission set the national minimum wage at $26.44 per hour or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult employee (38 ordinary hours). Casual employees receive a 25% loading, bringing the casual rate to $33.05 per hour.

However, most interior designers are covered by a modern award. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that awards set minimum pay rates for specific industries and occupations. The Professional Employees Award 2020 is the most likely award for interior designers. This award contains classification levels with minimum rates that are typically higher than the national minimum wage. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database provides the calculated minimum rates, allowances, and penalty rates for each award. You should check your classification in that award to find your exact legal minimum.

Award Rates vs. the National Minimum

Even if you are covered by an award, the award’s lowest ongoing classification cannot fall below the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour. Some awards have introductory rates for new employees (e.g., the first six months) that can be as low as $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week. After the introductory period, you must move to the full classification rate. An enterprise agreement can also set higher rates than the award.

Survey Averages: What the ABS Reports

The ABS, through Jobs and Skills Australia, provides median earnings data for interior designers. For full-time non-managerial adult employees, the median weekly earnings before tax are $1,692. That works out to about $42 per hour based on a 40-hour week (though the standard ordinary week is 38 hours). This figure is a survey average, not a legal minimum. It reflects what half of interior designers earn more than and half earn less than. Your actual salary may be higher or lower depending on experience, location, and employer.

How Super and Tax Affect Your Weekly Packet

Remember that the super guarantee is an employer payment on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings. So if your gross weekly salary is $1,692, your employer must also pay $203.04 into your super fund. That is not deducted from your pay.

Tax is deducted from your gross pay. For the 2026-27 tax year, resident rates apply with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare levy is estimated at 2% once your annualised ordinary gross income reaches $30,000. The low-income tax offset and other offsets may reduce your tax, but this guide does not model those. Use the ATO’s tax calculator for your exact situation.

Juniors, Apprentices, and Other Variations

Not every interior designer receives $26.44 per hour. Award-free junior employees have percentage-based minimums: under 16 years old – $9.73 per hour; 16 years – $12.51; 17 years – $15.29; 18 years – $18.06; 19 years – $21.82; 20 years – $25.84; 21 and over – the full adult rate. Apprentices and trainees covered by an award have their own progressive rates. Always check the applicable award or agreement.

Where to Find Your Exact Rate

Which minimum wage applies – Start here to determine if you are award-free or covered by an award.
Rate tables – View the current national minimum wage and award classification rates.

For award-specific rates, use the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool or download the spreadsheets from the Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database. If you are covered by an enterprise agreement, check that document for your pay rate.

Summary

The interior designer salary in Australia has a legal floor of $26.44 per hour (or higher under an award), while the ABS median of $1,692 per week gives a realistic benchmark for full-time workers. Super is paid on top, and tax is deducted. Always confirm your classification and applicable award to ensure you are being paid correctly.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.