What is the average salary of a home decorator?

“Home decorator” can mean different roles in the UK, so salary figures can look all over the place. In this guide, you’ll see the typical pay ranges for the most common types of home decorator, what changes those numbers, and why “salary” isn’t the same as what a customer pays for a decorating job.

First, what type of home decorator do you mean?

In the UK, many homeowners use “home decorator” to mean a painter and decorator (the trade that paints, wallpapers, and finishes interiors/exteriors). The National Careers Service lists typical annual pay from about £17,000 (starter) to £32,000 (experienced) for painter and decorators.

However, you’ll also see “home decorator” used for interior decorators (more focused on styling and finishes rather than trade decorating). For that role, Indeed reports an average UK salary around £27,236 per year (based on reported salaries).

If you’re comparing numbers online, make sure you’re comparing the same job title. “Painter and decorator”, “interior decorator”, and “interior designer” can sit in very different pay bands.

Why salary numbers can be wildly different

Salary depends on whether someone is employed, self-employed, or running a business.

Employee-style salary guides often show lower, steadier pay ranges. Meanwhile, large salary datasets from job platforms can show higher averages because they include more experienced workers, certain regions, and higher-paying sectors. For example, Indeed’s salary data for a painter & decorator in England shows an average in the mid-£30k range based on thousands of reports.

Location also matters. Pay tends to rise in higher-cost areas and where demand is high, so “UK average” can hide big regional swings.

Salary vs what you pay: don’t mix them up

Homeowners often search salary figures to estimate decorating costs, but salary isn’t the same as a charge-out rate.

A self-employed home decorator or decorating firm has overheads: insurance, tools, travel, materials handling, admin time, and gaps between jobs. That’s why customer-facing rates don’t map neatly to “average salary”, even when the work is similar.

If your goal is budgeting for your home, you’ll get a more accurate answer by asking for a clear quote that reflects prep, access, and finishes—rather than relying on salary pages.

What this means if you’re hiring locally in Bury and Bolton

If you’re in Bury, Bolton, or surrounding areas, use salary figures only as background context. The real cost comes down to your surfaces (prep needs), the rooms involved, and the finish level you want.

At Carlo Picasso Decorators, we keep things straightforward and customer-focused. We can work with most budgets and standards, and we’re transparent that we typically run a 4–8 week waitlist, so it’s worth reaching out early if you have dates in mind.

Conclusion

The average salary of a home decorator depends on the role—trade painter and decorator vs interior decorator—and on experience, region, and whether they’re employed or self-employed. If you’re trying to plan a decorating project, the best next step is a proper quote based on your home. For work in Bury, Bolton, and nearby, contact Carlo Picasso Decorators on 0161 960 0104 to discuss your project and availability.