Dancers
+4.5%
Employed
8K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: no formal educational credential
HUMANITIES
Fashion Designer
Fashion Designer earn $80,960 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $51,940 and $106,470. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Fashion Designer
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
- Median Wage
- $80,960
- Employed Nationally
- 21K
- Openings / Year
- 2,300
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Accessories Designer
Apparel Accessories Specialist
Apparel and Accessories Designer
Apparel Designer
Apparel Technical Designer
How Much Do Fashion Designers Make?
Fashion Designer earn $80,960 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,940 and $106,470. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$80,960
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$52K–$106K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$51,940
Entry-level
$80,960
Median
$106,470
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $91,230, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Fashion Designers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Fashion Designer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll 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.
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Fashion Designers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Fashion Designers?
The BLS projects +2.0% employment change for Fashion Designer through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 2,300 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +2.0%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Slower than average.
2,300
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
21K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Fashion Designer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $80,960 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 6,600 | $96,420 | +19.1% |
| 2 | California | 5,610 | — | — |
| 3 | Texas | 1,800 | — | — |
| 4 | Oregon | 1,140 | $125,310 | +54.8% |
| 5 | Florida | 840 | $43,920 | -45.8% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Fashion Designer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design | 36,019 | $51,490 | 1,238 |
| 2 | Drama & Theatre | 16,853 | $39,775 | 1,116 |
| 3 | Apparel & Textiles | 2,961 | $57,640 | 135 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Fashion Designers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Fashion Designer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Fashion Designer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Fashion Designer Pros & Cons
The data on Fashion Designer shows 2 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $80,960 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $106,470 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +2.0% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($51,940) and 75th ($106,470) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $51,940 is considerably below the $80,960 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Fashion Designer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Fashion Designer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Fashion Designer is $80,960, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $51,940 and $106,470. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Fashion Designer a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $80,960 median, though slow job growth means most openings come from workers leaving the field rather than new positions being created. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How do I become a Fashion Designer?
Most Fashion Designer positions require a bachelor's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Design are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Fashion Designer?
The BLS projects +2.0% employment change for Fashion Designer through 2034, slower than average compared to all occupations. About 2,300 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 21K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Fashion Designer salaries vary so widely?
The $54,530 gap between the 25th ($51,940) and 75th ($106,470) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Fashion Designer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Fashion Designer roles: Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, and Time Management. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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