How much does a Fashion Designers make?

The median annual wage for Fashion Designers is $80,960 ($39 per hour). Pay ranges from about $39,490 at the 10th percentile to $146,870 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Fashion Designers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $91,230, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Fashion Designerss the most?

Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $103,520.

Is Fashion Designers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 21K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Fashion Designers do?

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..

Fashion Designers Salary

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 21K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$80,960

Median hourly

$39

Average annual

$91,230

Typical range

$39,490–$146,870

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$39,490

25th$51,940

Median$80,960

75th$106,470

90th$146,870

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Fashion Designers is $80,960 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $39 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends..

Most earn between $39,490 and $146,870 a year. There are roughly 21K people employed as fashion designers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Fashion Designers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $38.92
Daily: $311
Weekly: $1,557
Bi-weekly: $3,114
Monthly: $6,747
Annual: $80,960

$80,960 a year is around the 50th percentile for Fashion Designerss. The median is $80,960.

Fashion Designers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$19.00	$39,490
25th percentile	$25.00	$51,940
Median	$38.90	$80,960
75th percentile	$51.20	$106,470
90th percentile	$70.60	$146,870
Average (mean)	$43.90	$91,230
Employment	21,450 people

Key skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Reading Comprehension
Persuasion

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Massachusetts$103,520
2New Jersey$101,610
3New Hampshire$100,160
4New York$98,640
5Colorado$94,140
6Virginia$94,120
7Ohio$82,050
8Washington$82,030
9Connecticut$81,510
10Vermont$79,610
11Georgia$78,340
12North Carolina$74,990

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$108,220
2Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$106,630
3San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$102,370
4New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$99,560
5Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$99,420
6Boulder, CO$98,680
7Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$96,760
8Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,220
9Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$82,130
10Burlington-South Burlington, VT$82,040
11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,010
12Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$78,890

Related job titles

Employers advertise Fashion Designers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Fashion Designers does

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.
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.
Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Fashion Designers make?: The median annual wage for Fashion Designers is $80,960 ($39 per hour). Pay ranges from about $39,490 at the 10th percentile to $146,870 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Fashion Designers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $91,230, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Fashion Designerss the most?: Massachusetts has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $103,520.
Is Fashion Designers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 21K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Fashion Designers do?: 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..