NOC 52121: Interior designers and interior decorators
What interior designers and interior decorators do
Interior designers and interior decorators conceptualize and produce aesthetic, functional and safe designs for interior spaces in residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial buildings. They are employed by architectural and interior design firms, retail establishments, construction companies, hospitals, airlines, hotel and restaurant chains, and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Consult with clients to determine needs, preferences, safety requirements and purpose of space
- Develop detailed plans and 3-D models showing arrangement of walls, dividers, displays, lighting and other fixtures using computer-assisted design (CAD) software and graphics software
- Develop plans, elevations, cross sections and detailed drawings, and advise on selection of colours, finishes and materials, floor and wall coverings, window treatments, interior and exterior lighting, furniture and other items, taking into account ergonomic and occupational health standards
- Estimate costs and materials required and may advise on leasing, real estate and marketing
- Prepare plans and specifications for the final interior designs in accordance with current practices and codes
- Work in a multidisciplinary environment
- May direct site work crews and subcontractors.
- Interior designers are experts in the area of interior architecture, construction materials and building codes. They may specialize in designing interiors for residential, commercial, institutional, cultural and industrial buildings and for aircraft, ships or trains, trade shows and exhibitions. Interior decorators may specialize in decorating residential or commercial interior spaces, home staging, colour consulting and home organizing.
Job titles under NOC 52121
27 job titles are classified here, including aircraft interior designer, interior decorator, interior design technician.
- aircraft interior designer
- building space planner
- business aircraft interior designer
- certified interior designer
- colour consultant - home decorating
- decorating consultant
- designer - interior design
- green design consultant - interior design
- home decorating consultant
- home decorator
- home organizer
- home stager
- home staging consultant
- interior decorating consultant
- interior decorator
- interior design consultant
- interior design project manager
- interior design technician
- interior designer
- interior designer assistant
- interior space designer
- kitchen designer
- licensed interior designer
- office space planner
Employment requirements
- Interior designers
- A university degree or college diploma in interior design is usually required.
- The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be required after six years of combined study and experience.
- Certification by a provincial institute or association is required to use protected titles related to interior designers in all provinces except Prince Edward Island.
- Interior decorators
- A college certificate or diploma in interior decoration is usually required.
- Membership in the Canadian Decorators' Association is available to qualified decorators.
Interior designers and interior decorators wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $18.35/hr | $28.85/hr | $48.72/hr |
Toronto ON | $18.86/hr | $29.53/hr | $45.65/hr |
Montréal QC | $21.03/hr | $28.12/hr | $40.47/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $20.00/hr | $31.25/hr | $64.18/hr |
Calgary AB | $22.00/hr | $30.58/hr | $42.91/hr |
Edmonton AB | $21.00/hr | $29.47/hr | $43.72/hr |
Ottawa ON | $20.88/hr | $30.74/hr | $44.55/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $21.30/hr | $28.49/hr | $38.97/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $21.00/hr | $27.56/hr | $40.87/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $21.27/hr | $28.49/hr | $44.47/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $23.44/hr | $27.50/hr | $33.50/hr |
London ON | $17.60/hr | $27.40/hr | $50.00/hr |
Halifax NS | $21.03/hr | $24.79/hr | $35.70/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $20.00/hr | $31.25/hr | $64.18/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $15.35/hr | $25.95/hr | $40.00/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $19.13/hr | $25.30/hr | $36.84/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.97/hr | $24.58/hr | $37.90/hr |
Nova Scotia | $19.06/hr | $25.40/hr | $40.89/hr |
New Brunswick | $18.31/hr | $25.36/hr | $31.62/hr |
Quebec | $21.00/hr | $27.56/hr | $40.87/hr |
Ontario | $17.60/hr | $27.40/hr | $50.00/hr |
Manitoba | $19.50/hr | $29.45/hr | $42.05/hr |
Saskatchewan | $15.35/hr | $25.95/hr | $40.00/hr |
Alberta | $21.00/hr | $29.50/hr | $42.88/hr |
British Columbia | $20.00/hr | $31.25/hr | $64.18/hr |
Using NOC 52121 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 27 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 52120)
- Industrial designers (NOC 22211)
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (NOC 73112)
- Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers (NOC 53123)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for interior designers and interior decorators?
Interior designers and interior decorators are NOC 2021 unit group 52121. Example job titles in this group include aircraft interior designer, interior decorator, interior design technician, interior designer.
What TEER is NOC 52121?
NOC 52121 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do interior designers and interior decorators earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $28.85/hr, about $56,000 a year full-time, with a range of $18.35/hr to $48.72/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.