Fashion designers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Mean (average) | $91,230 | $43.86 |
| 90th percentile | $146,870 | $70.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Fashion designers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 30 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $45,720 | $38,830 | $61,650 | ||
| Arkansas | Data unavailable | 190 | 1.08 | ||
| California | Data unavailable | 6,470 | 2.57 | ||
| Colorado | $94,140 | $59,180 | $132,990 | 360 | 0.91 |
| Connecticut | $81,510 | $45,040 | $194,570 | 50 | 0.2 |
| Florida | $43,020 | $27,710 | $82,330 | 1,100 | 0.8 |
| Georgia | $78,340 | $48,860 | $152,970 | 120 | 0.17 |
| Hawaii | $47,990 | $43,100 | $74,990 | ||
| Indiana | $40,740 | $39,190 | $85,580 | 120 | 0.27 |
| Kansas | $59,150 | $48,860 | $104,620 | 40 | 0.22 |
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 120 | 0.43 | ||
| Maine | $49,530 | $31,770 | $124,210 | 30 | 0.35 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 120 | 0.32 | ||
| Massachusetts | $103,520 | $57,710 | $174,250 | 540 | 1.08 |
| Michigan | $63,430 | $31,800 | $102,330 | 40 | 0.07 |
| Minnesota | $42,110 | $42,110 | $56,080 | 420 | 1.02 |
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 200 | 0.48 | ||
| New Hampshire | $100,160 | $64,430 | $131,920 | 40 | 0.44 |
| New Jersey | $101,610 | $65,790 | $132,470 | 160 | 0.27 |
| New York | $98,640 | $62,610 | $177,430 | 5,760 | 4.31 |
| North Carolina | $74,990 | $32,280 | $195,590 | 460 | 0.68 |
| Ohio | $82,050 | $43,820 | $93,070 | 90 | 0.11 |
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 860 | 3.17 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $63,840 | $48,520 | $133,820 | 320 | 0.38 |
| Texas | $40,040 | $28,170 | $98,620 | 1,850 | 0.95 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 430 | 1.8 | ||
| Vermont | $79,610 | $50,940 | $99,810 | 60 | 1.32 |
| Virginia | $94,120 | $50,410 | $118,490 | 100 | 0.17 |
| Washington | $82,030 | $55,080 | $136,830 | ||
| Wisconsin | $57,030 | $37,950 | $75,770 | 120 | 0.3 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for fashion designers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 35.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for fashion designers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Apparel and Textile Manufacture CIP 19.0902
- Textile Science CIP 19.0904
- Fashion and Fabric Consultant CIP 19.0906
- Fashion/Apparel Design CIP 50.0407
- Costume Design CIP 50.0510
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
- Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
- Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
Technology skills
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (in demand)
- Adobe InDesign (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Trimble SketchUp Pro (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD Design Suite
- Autodesk SketchBook Pro
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Costume Designer, Designer, Fashion Design Contractor, Fashion Designer, Fashion Graphic Designer, Fashion Stylist, Handbag Designer, Product Developer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fashion designers make?
The national median annual wage for fashion designers was $80,960 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,490 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $146,870. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do fashion designers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is fashion designers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of fashion designers to change +0.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay fashion designers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Massachusetts ($103,520), New Jersey ($101,610), New Hampshire ($100,160). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.