OPT Interior Designer Jobs
Interior Designer jobs on OPT require a degree in interior design, architecture, or a related field, qualifying them as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship. Most roles are studio or firm-based, so your 12-month OPT window (up to 36 months with STEM extension if applicable) needs to align with project-based hiring cycles.
Find OPT Interior Designer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 99+ Interior Designer jobs
See all 99+ Interior Designer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Interior Designer roles.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
This position’s primary responsibility is to service in-store guests with a selling strategy that follows the guidelines of our Guest Engagement Model, while emphasizing the Interior Design. Will service any influx of scheduled design appointments made in-house, through our Commercial business channels, or via appointment setting technology by analyzing collected information pertaining to the project’s requests/constraints.
Position Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Greet and engage guests and execute sales proficiency using Living Spaces Guest Engagement Model and supporting behaviors
- Determine guests’ goals and requirements of their design project
- Provide relevant design advice, product knowledge, and product recommendations
- Present customized room designs, including sample fabrics, furniture, tables and accessory recommendations
- Maintain current knowledge of merchandise lines; product features, benefits and availability
- Master product knowledge and brand design inspiration
- Process customer transactions in the Point of Sale system
- Complete required training in the expected timeframe, and participate in ongoing learning opportunities
- Actively support and contribute to the store team with the goal of helping the entire team delight guests and achieve revenue targets
- Ensure that the store is “Grand Opening” ready by completing the daily task list and style guides
- Ability to work weekends and most holidays
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Qualifications
Education/Experience: Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from a community college or four-year college in interior design. 1-2 years experience in a customer service, retail, or furniture store environment. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have experience in Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of design software programs is a plus.
Certificates and Licenses: Vocational certificate or degree in interior design. Must successfully complete the internal certification program at Living Spaces.
Position Hiring Range
The hiring pay range provides a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage that Living Spaces expects to pay for the position upon hire. Pay will be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to: applicant's education, relevant work experience, knowledge, applicable and relevant skills and abilities, market demand, Company budget, as well as internal equity and alignment with geographic market data. Living Spaces reserves the right to modify this page at any time.
Compensation: $18.35 - $23.85
Overtime pay is available for eligible, non-exempt Team Members. Reimbursement for expenses as required by applicable law and Company policy. Retail, Guest Services and Distribution Center Team Members are eligible to receive team bonus based on meeting specific goals and KPI's.
Additional available benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements include:
- Medical (full-time only)
- Dental (full-time only)
- Vision (full-time only)
- 401(k) with Company match (full and part-time)
- Vacation (full-time only or as otherwise required by applicable law)
- Paid Sick Leave (full and part-time)
- Flex or Health Spending Account (for eligible full-time only)
- Employee Assistance Program (full and part-time)
- Holiday pay (full-time only)
- Life insurance (full-time only)
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.
E-Verify
Living Spaces participates in E-Verify. All newly-hired team members are queried through this electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
Position Summary
This position’s primary responsibility is to service in-store guests with a selling strategy that follows the guidelines of our Guest Engagement Model, while emphasizing the Interior Design. Will service any influx of scheduled design appointments made in-house, through our Commercial business channels, or via appointment setting technology by analyzing collected information pertaining to the project’s requests/constraints.
Position Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Greet and engage guests and execute sales proficiency using Living Spaces Guest Engagement Model and supporting behaviors
- Determine guests’ goals and requirements of their design project
- Provide relevant design advice, product knowledge, and product recommendations
- Present customized room designs, including sample fabrics, furniture, tables and accessory recommendations
- Maintain current knowledge of merchandise lines; product features, benefits and availability
- Master product knowledge and brand design inspiration
- Process customer transactions in the Point of Sale system
- Complete required training in the expected timeframe, and participate in ongoing learning opportunities
- Actively support and contribute to the store team with the goal of helping the entire team delight guests and achieve revenue targets
- Ensure that the store is “Grand Opening” ready by completing the daily task list and style guides
- Ability to work weekends and most holidays
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment
Qualifications
Education/Experience: Associate degree (A.A. or A.S.) or equivalent from a community college or four-year college in interior design. 1-2 years experience in a customer service, retail, or furniture store environment. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual must have experience in Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of design software programs is a plus.
Certificates and Licenses: Vocational certificate or degree in interior design. Must successfully complete the internal certification program at Living Spaces.
Position Hiring Range
The hiring pay range provides a good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage that Living Spaces expects to pay for the position upon hire. Pay will be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to: applicant's education, relevant work experience, knowledge, applicable and relevant skills and abilities, market demand, Company budget, as well as internal equity and alignment with geographic market data. Living Spaces reserves the right to modify this page at any time.
Compensation: $18.35 - $23.85
Overtime pay is available for eligible, non-exempt Team Members. Reimbursement for expenses as required by applicable law and Company policy. Retail, Guest Services and Distribution Center Team Members are eligible to receive team bonus based on meeting specific goals and KPI's.
Additional available benefits upon meeting eligibility requirements include:
- Medical (full-time only)
- Dental (full-time only)
- Vision (full-time only)
- 401(k) with Company match (full and part-time)
- Vacation (full-time only or as otherwise required by applicable law)
- Paid Sick Leave (full and part-time)
- Flex or Health Spending Account (for eligible full-time only)
- Employee Assistance Program (full and part-time)
- Holiday pay (full-time only)
- Life insurance (full-time only)
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.
E-Verify
Living Spaces participates in E-Verify. All newly-hired team members are queried through this electronic system established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify their identity and employment eligibility.
See all 99+ OPT Interior Designer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Interior Designer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Interior Designer
Target firms with a history of visa sponsorship
Search Migrate Mate to find interior design firms and architecture studios that have sponsored work visas before. A firm that has navigated H-1B visa petitions previously is far more likely to sponsor you after OPT ends.
Frame your portfolio around specialty occupation evidence
USCIS requires interior design to meet specialty occupation standards. Your portfolio should demonstrate theoretical and practical application of a specific design discipline, not generalist work. Specialized expertise strengthens both your job applications and any future visa petition.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with smaller firms
Boutique design studios often don't know what OPT authorization involves. Come prepared with a one-page explainer covering your work authorization dates, what STEM extension means, and when an H-1B petition would need to be filed.
Prioritize roles with structured career paths
Larger firms and corporate in-house design teams are more likely to sponsor H-1B petitions than freelance or contract-heavy studios. Look for positions with defined seniority tracks, which signal the employer invests in long-term talent retention.
Understand STEM extension eligibility for your degree
Interior design degrees are not automatically STEM-designated. Check whether your specific program's CIP code qualifies. If it does, you may have up to 36 months of OPT, giving employers significantly more runway before an H-1B filing is needed.
Get licensed or start the process during OPT
NCIDQ certification and state licensure strengthen your specialty occupation case considerably. Pursuing credentials while on OPT signals professional commitment and makes you a more defensible H-1B candidate when your employer files the petition.
Interior Designer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Interior Designer jobs qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B sponsorship?
Interior design can qualify as a specialty occupation, but it's not automatic. USCIS looks for roles requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in interior design, architecture, or a directly related field as a minimum entry requirement. Generalist or decorator-level roles that accept any degree are less likely to qualify. Firms with structured design departments and degree requirements in job postings are your strongest targets.
How can I find Interior Designer jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists interior design roles from employers open to sponsoring international candidates on OPT. Rather than sorting through general job boards, Migrate Mate filters for visa-friendly employers, saving you the time of researching each firm's sponsorship history manually. This is especially useful when your OPT window is limited and you need to focus on realistic opportunities.
Is my interior design degree STEM-designated for OPT extension purposes?
It depends on your program's CIP code, not the job title or school name. Some interior design programs fall under CIP 04.0501 (Interior Architecture) or related codes that may qualify for STEM OPT extension, while others do not. Check your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. Your DSO at your university's international student office can confirm whether your specific degree qualifies.
Can I work as a freelance Interior Designer on OPT?
Self-employment on OPT is technically permitted but legally complex. You must be employed by a business entity you own, and the work must be directly related to your degree. More importantly, self-employment makes H-1B sponsorship nearly impossible since you can't sponsor yourself on an H-1B. If your goal is long-term U.S. work authorization, a traditional employer relationship is a more viable path.
When should I start talking to my employer about H-1B sponsorship?
Start the conversation early in your OPT period, ideally within the first three months of starting the role. H-1B registration opens in March for an October 1 start date. If your OPT ends before October 1 and you're not STEM-eligible for a cap-gap extension, timing becomes critical. Your employer's immigration attorney will need lead time to assess eligibility and prepare documentation before the registration window opens.