Fashion Designer salary in the U.S.
Fashion Designers in the U.S. earn a median of $80,960 a year ($38.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,870 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $91,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fashion designers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| 25th percentile | $51,940 | $24.97 |
| Median | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| 75th percentile | $106,470 | $51.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $146,870 | $70.61 |
| Average (mean) | $91,230 | $43.86 |
Half of fashion designers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,746.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,373.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,113.85 |
| Weekly | $1,556.92 |
| Hourly | $38.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fashion Designer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $103,520 | 540 |
| New Jersey | $101,610 | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $100,160 | 40 |
| New York | $98,640 | 5,760 |
| Colorado | $94,140 | 360 |
| Virginia | $94,120 | 100 |
| Ohio | $82,050 | 90 |
| Washington | $82,030 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $81,510 | 50 |
| Vermont | $79,610 | 60 |
| Georgia | $78,340 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $74,990 | 460 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,840 | 320 |
| Michigan | $63,430 | 40 |
| Kansas | $59,150 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $57,030 | 120 |
| Maine | $49,530 | 30 |
| Hawaii | $47,990 | n/a |
| Arizona | $45,720 | n/a |
| Florida | $43,020 | 1,100 |
| Minnesota | $42,110 | 420 |
| Indiana | $40,740 | 120 |
| Texas | $40,040 | 1,850 |
Best-paying metro areas for fashion designers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $108,220 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,630 | 480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $102,370 | 450 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $99,560 | 5,540 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $99,420 | 250 |
| Boulder, CO | $98,680 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $96,760 | 180 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $85,220 | n/a |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $82,130 | 110 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $82,040 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,010 | 320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $78,890 | 170 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $78,280 | 80 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $63,210 | 590 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $62,400 | 80 |
Metro areas with the most fashion designers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,540 | $99,560 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 590 | $63,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 480 | $106,630 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 450 | $102,370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 320 | $82,010 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 250 | $99,420 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 180 | $96,760 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 170 | $78,890 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 160 | $61,810 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 150 | $60,010 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 110 | $82,130 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 90 | $61,360 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 80 | $46,150 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 80 | $78,280 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 80 | $62,400 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Art Director | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fashion designer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for fashion designers in the U.S. is $80,960 a year, or $38.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $146,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fashion designers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of fashion designers in the U.S. earn at least $146,870 a year. The top 25% earn $106,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for fashion designers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,490 a year, and a quarter of fashion designers earn $51,940 or less.
How many fashion designers work in the U.S.?
About 21,450 fashion designers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.