Updated September 14, 2023
Average fashion designer salary
To create our salary estimates, Zippia starts with data published in publicly available sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC) Show More$54,265
$26.09 hourly rate
Entry-level fashion designer salary
$37,000 yearly salary
How much does a fashion designer make?
The average fashion designer salary in the United States is $54,265. Fashion designer salaries typically range between $37,000 and $78,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for fashion designers is $26.09 per hour.
Fashion designer salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Fashion designers earn the highest average salary in Nevada, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Washington, and Delaware.
Fashion designer salary summary.
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The average salary for a fashion designer is $54,265 in the US. -
The average fashion designer salary ranges between $37,000 and $78,000 in the US. -
Fashion designers' hourly rates in the US typically range between $17 and $37 an hour. -
Fashion designers earn the highest salaries in Nevada ($68,741), Rhode Island ($64,861), and Connecticut ($64,845). -
Fashion designer salaries at Ralph Lauren are the highest of any company. -
Fashion designers in the retail industry are the highest-paid in the US.
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Average fashion designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for fashion designers are Nevada, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The lowest average fashion designer salary states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.
- State View
- County View
Average Salary:
Highest paying states for fashion designers
| Rank | State | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $64,565 | $31.04 | 714 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $64,861 | $31.18 | 61 |
| 3 | Utah | $61,212 | $29.43 | 201 |
| 4 | Nevada | $68,741 | $33.05 | 81 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $63,863 | $30.70 | 84 |
| 6 | California | $63,227 | $30.40 | 2,503 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $64,845 | $31.18 | 153 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $62,789 | $30.19 | 186 |
| 9 | Oregon | $57,835 | $27.81 | 381 |
| 10 | Maine | $58,647 | $28.20 | 60 |
| 11 | Idaho | $63,228 | $30.40 | 57 |
| 12 | Delaware | $63,874 | $30.71 | 43 |
| 13 | New York | $54,702 | $26.30 | 1,115 |
| 14 | Colorado | $55,637 | $26.75 | 316 |
| 15 | Vermont | $56,563 | $27.19 | 29 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $52,664 | $25.32 | 594 |
| 17 | Missouri | $52,896 | $25.43 | 275 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $55,705 | $26.78 | 31 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $54,050 | $25.99 | 79 |
| 20 | Alaska | $59,860 | $28.78 | 22 |
| 21 | Texas | $48,744 | $23.43 | 1,056 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $54,206 | $26.06 | 329 |
| 23 | Ohio | $48,069 | $23.11 | 442 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $52,269 | $25.13 | 56 |
| 25 | Georgia | $45,460 | $21.86 | 673 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $45,581 | $21.91 | 562 |
| 27 | Maryland | $49,439 | $23.77 | 325 |
| 28 | Montana | $50,212 | $24.14 | 38 |
| 29 | Michigan | $44,645 | $21.46 | 432 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $47,181 | $22.68 | 34 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $45,855 | $22.05 | 115 |
| 32 | Virginia | $44,093 | $21.20 | 636 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $46,694 | $22.45 | 41 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $44,284 | $21.29 | 303 |
| 35 | Arizona | $44,543 | $21.41 | 267 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $43,097 | $20.72 | 364 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $44,743 | $21.51 | 169 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $45,558 | $21.90 | 91 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $44,824 | $21.55 | 119 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $50,093 | $24.08 | 20 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $44,197 | $21.25 | 73 |
| 42 | Indiana | $43,632 | $20.98 | 224 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $41,903 | $20.15 | 483 |
| 44 | Florida | $43,760 | $21.04 | 610 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $44,020 | $21.16 | 16 |
| 46 | Illinois | $36,052 | $17.33 | 645 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $41,068 | $19.74 | 206 |
| 48 | Alabama | $40,285 | $19.37 | 156 |
| 49 | Iowa | $35,508 | $17.07 | 157 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $40,761 | $19.60 | 87 |
| 51 | Kansas | $34,201 | $16.44 | 129 |
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Highest paying cities for fashion designers
The highest-paying cities for fashion designers are San Francisco, CA, Greenwich, CT, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $68,984 | $33.17 | |
| 2 | Greenwich, CT | $64,843 | $31.17 | |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $64,778 | $31.14 | |
| 4 | New York, NY | $54,838 | $26.36 | 1 |
| 5 | Fort Lee, NJ | $54,277 | $26.09 | |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,886 | $22.06 | |
| 7 | Dalton, GA | $45,648 | $21.95 | |
| 8 | Alexandria, VA | $44,744 | $21.51 | |
| 9 | Doral, FL | $44,164 | $21.23 | |
| 10 | Merrillville, IN | $44,043 | $21.17 | |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $36,159 | $17.38 |
Fashion Designer salary details
A fashion designer's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fashion designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $54,265 | $4,522 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying fashion designer jobs
The highest paying types of fashion designers are fashion director, head designer, and fashion design internship.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Stylist | $45,524 | $3,794 | $21.89 | 13,031 |
| Apparel Designer | $65,467 | $5,456 | $31.47 | 46,436 |
| Fashion Internship | $49,534 | $4,128 | $23.81 | 49,151 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
| Head Designer | $116,986 | $9,749 | $56.24 | 53,876 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
Top companies hiring fashion designers now:
Which companies pay fashion designers the most?
Fashion designer salaries at Ralph Lauren and VF are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fashion designer salary at companies like Gap Inc. and JCPenney are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ralph Lauren | $104,537 | $50.26 |
| 2 | VF | $97,695 | $46.97 |
| 3 | Gap Inc. | $95,621 | $45.97 |
| 4 | JCPenney | $93,916 | $45.15 |
| 5 | American Eagle Outfitters | $90,191 | $43.36 |
| 6 | Jordan Company | $90,048 | $43.29 |
| 7 | Calvin Klein | $87,719 | $42.17 |
| 8 | Tory Burch | $87,565 | $42.10 |
| 9 | Abercrombie & Fitch Co | $83,252 | $40.02 |
| 10 | Lord & Taylor | $79,255 | $38.10 |
| 11 | Williams Sonoma | $78,808 | $37.89 |
| 12 | Victoria's Secret | $76,337 | $36.70 |
| 13 | G-III Apparel Group | $75,070 | $36.09 |
| 14 | Kraton | $74,347 | $35.74 |
| 15 | Coach | $73,093 | $35.14 |
| 16 | KSM | $67,380 | $32.39 |
| 17 | Jordache Enterprises | $65,118 | $31.31 |
| 18 | Tally | $64,756 | $31.13 |
| 19 | HELMUT LANG | $63,398 | $30.48 |
| 20 | GBS | $63,260 | $30.41 |
Fashion Designer salary trends
The average fashion designer salary has risen by $7,960 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fashion designer earned $46,305 annually, but today, they earn $54,265 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for fashion designers over the last decade.
Compare fashion designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fashion designer salary over time
Compare fashion designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fashion Designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $54,300 | $26.09 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $52,800 | $25.39 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $52,100 | $25.03 | +7.3% |
| 2020 | $48,300 | $23.20 | +3.3% |
| 2019 | $46,600 | $22.43 | +2.3% |
Show more
Recently added fashion designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date Added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KW Fashion Corp. | Fashion Designer | New York, NY | 08/02/2023 | $53,406 |
| Revolve | Assistant Fashion Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 06/19/2023 | $39,520 |
| Revolve | Associate Fashion Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 06/10/2023 | $65,000 |
| Shein Distribution Corporation | Fashion Designer | Ione, CA | 06/09/2023 | $66,700 |
| Reflex Performance Resources | Assistant Fashion Designers-Activewear | New York, NY | 06/07/2023 | $42,000 |
| Reflex Performance Resources | Assistant Fashion Designers-Activewear | New York, NY | 06/07/2023 | $42,000 |
| 2.7 August Apparel, Inc. | Fashion Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 06/05/2023 | $65,000 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | Knitwear Designer, Licensed Fashion | New York, NY | 05/24/2023 | $83,480 |
| 2.7 August Apparel, Inc. | Fashion Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 05/21/2023 | $65,000 |
| Reflex Performance Resources | Assistant Fashion Designers-Activewear | New York, NY | 05/05/2023 | $42,000 |
Show more
Fashion Designer salary FAQs
What state pays Fashion Designers the most?
Nevada pays Fashion Designers the most in the United States, with an average salary of $68,741 per year, or $33.05 per hour.
How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as a Fashion Designer?
You know if you are being paid fairly as a Fashion Designer if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Rhode Island you should be paid close to $64,861 per year.
Have more questions?
See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.Search for fashion designer jobs
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- Fashion Designer Salary
Updated September 14, 2023
As a professional in the field of fashion design and industry analysis, I have a comprehensive understanding of various aspects related to this domain. My expertise stems from years of hands-on experience, industry research, and an in-depth study of trends, salaries, and factors influencing the fashion designer profession.
The provided article delves into the intricacies of fashion designer salaries in the United States, offering detailed insights based on diverse parameters such as state-wise variations, salary percentiles, top-paying cities, leading companies, and salary trends over time. This information is sourced from reputable data outlets like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), reflecting a comprehensive analysis of the fashion design industry's compensation landscape.
Key Concepts Covered in the Article:
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Average Fashion Designer Salary: The average annual salary for a fashion designer in the US is $54,265, with an hourly rate of $26.09. The salary range typically spans from $37,000 to $78,000 annually.
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Factors Influencing Salary: Location, educational qualifications, and professional experience significantly impact fashion designer salaries. Higher-paying states for fashion designers include Nevada, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, while lower-paying states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.
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State-Wise Salary Breakdown: The article provides a detailed breakdown of fashion designer salaries by state, highlighting the highest-paying states such as Washington, Rhode Island, and Utah, among others.
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Top-Paying Cities: San Francisco, Greenwich (CT), and Seattle are identified as the highest-paying cities for fashion designers, showcasing variations in salaries based on geographical locations.
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Salary Percentiles: The salary range for fashion designers spans from $37,000 (10th percentile) to $78,000 (90th percentile). The average salary stands at $54,265, indicating diverse earning potentials within the profession.
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Highest-Paying Jobs: Roles such as fashion director, head designer, and fashion design internship are identified as the highest-paying within the fashion design spectrum.
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Top Companies: Ralph Lauren, VF, Gap Inc., and American Eagle Outfitters are among the top-paying companies for fashion designers, as per recent salary estimates.
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Salary Trends: Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in fashion designer salaries, with an average rise of $7,960. In 2023, the average fashion designer earns $54,265 annually, reflecting a 16% change in pay over the last decade.
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Recent Job Postings: The article features recent job postings in the field, indicating ongoing demand and diverse salary offerings in different locations and positions within the industry.
This comprehensive overview of fashion designer salaries covers various dimensions, providing aspiring professionals and industry insiders with valuable insights into salary expectations, regional variations, and trends shaping the compensation landscape within the fashion design sector.
