Fashion Designers earn a median of $80,960 per year ($38.92/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.1% through 2035, with about 2,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1022
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fashion Designer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $80,960a year, or $38.92/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $147K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.1%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,50032,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202532.7K
- Projected 203532.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 32.7K Projected 2035 32.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school0.6%
- High school3.6%
- Some college1.1%
- Associate's44%
- Bachelor's50.7%
Highest education held by fashion designers Segment Value Less than high school 0.6% High school 3.6% Some college 1.1% Associate's 44% Bachelor's 50.7%
Also advertised as: Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Costume Designer, Designer, Fashion Design Contractor, Fashion Designer.
Pay
How much do Fashion Designers make?
Every fashion designer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$80,960
Middle half earn $51,940 to $106,470
- 10th
- $39,490
- 25th
- $51,940
- 75th
- $106,470
- 90th
- $146,870
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,490 |
| 25th | $51,940 |
| Median | $80,960 |
| 75th | $106,470 |
| 90th | $146,870 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $80,960
- Median hourly wage
- $38.92/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $91,230
- People employed
- 21,450
Versus all US occupations
At $80,960, Fashion Designers earn 59% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $29,980 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 19% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $146,870 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,490, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 61% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $103,520, and still leads at $97,885 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Fashion Designers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $103,520 | $97,885 | 540 |
| 2New Jersey | $101,610 | $93,387 | 160 |
| 3New Hampshire | $100,160 | $96,155 | 40 |
| 4New York | $98,640 | $91,400 | 5,760 |
| 5Colorado | $94,140 | $91,352 | 360 |
| 6Virginia | $94,120 | $93,092 | 100 |
| 7Ohio | $82,050 | $88,441 | 90 |
| 8Washington | $82,030 | $76,654 | N/A |
| 9Connecticut | $81,510 | $78,670 | 50 |
| 10Vermont | $79,610 | $81,270 | 60 |
Job outlook
Is Fashion Designer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fashion Designers | +0.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Fashion Designers to change 0.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,500 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 32,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Despite declining employment, about 2,500 openings for fashion designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The demand for a constant flow of new fashion designs is supported by social media influencers and by retailers advertising and selling directly to consumers online. Consumer interest in sustainable options in the fashion industry also has created a desire for designs that use eco- and vegan-friendly materials. As a result, stable employment is projected for this occupation.
Getting in
How to become a Fashion Designer
Fashion designers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. Employers may prefer to hire creative candidates who have technical knowledge of the production processes for clothing, accessories, or footwear.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as fashion designers.
- Bachelor's Degree50.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree44%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)3.6%
- Some College Courses1.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma0.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 50.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 44% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 3.6% |
| Some College Courses | 1.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fashion Designer do?
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they design.
Day-to-day tasks
- Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- 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.
- Visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.
- Adapt other designers' ideas for the mass market.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Fashion designers occasionally work many hours to meet production deadlines or prepare for fashion shows. Generally, designers who freelance are under contract; these designers often have long workdays that require them to adjust to their clients’ schedules and deadlines.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where fashion designers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers36%
- Retail trade20%
- Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers16%
- Management of companies and enterprises11%
- Apparel manufacturing7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 36% |
| Retail trade | 20% |
| Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers | 16% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 11% |
| Apparel manufacturing | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Writing3.4
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Persuasion3.6
- Negotiation3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Instructing3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Negotiation | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fashion Designer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fashion Designer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Artistic7.0
- Realistic4.3
- Enterprising4.0
- Conventional2.9
- Social2.4
- Investigative2.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fashion Designer
O*NET related occupations
- Production
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Production
Tailor, Dressmaker, and Custom Sewer
$41,640median a year
Most earn $30K to $64K
−8.8%No formal credential - Personal Care and Service
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with fashion designers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Fashion Designer$80,960
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within fashion designer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Questions
Fashion Designer: frequently asked questions
How much do Fashion Designers make?
Fashion Designers earn a median of $80,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 59% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $38.92/hr. The middle half earn between $51,940 and $106,470. The top 10% earn $146,870 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fashion Designer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Fashion Designers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as some preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.7% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Fashion Designer a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.1% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fashion Designer do?
Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. A core O*NET task: collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Computer aided design CAD software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Fashion Designers the most?
The highest state medians for Fashion Designers are Massachusetts ($103,520), New Jersey ($101,610), New Hampshire ($100,160) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Fashion Designer?
O*NET scores Fashion Designers highest on the Artistic, Realistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFP, ENTP, INTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.