Fashion Designers
Fashion Designers (SOC 27-1022) earn a median $80,960 a year ($38.92 an hour) in the United States, with 21,450 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Massachusetts.
What fashion designers do
Fashion designers design clothing and accessories, creating original designs or adapting fashion trends. They draw rough and detailed sketches of apparel or accessories and write specifications for color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements, choose materials and production techniques, and study sample garments on and off models, changing designs to get the effects they want. They confer with sales and management executives or clients about design ideas, identify target markets by factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status, collaborate with other designers on special products, provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and direct workers who draw and cut patterns and construct sample garments. Alternate titles include accessories designer, apparel technical designer, and athletic shoe designer. The role centers on design rather than on the construction work itself.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Accessories Designer, Apparel Accessories Specialist, Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Apparel Technical Designer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.99 | $24.97 | $38.92 | $51.19 | $70.61 | $43.86 | 21,450 |
| Annual | $39,490 | $51,940 | $80,960 | $106,470 | $146,870 | $91,230 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where fashion designers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $27.74 | $39.13 | $49.77 | $66.77 | $83.77 | $54.64 | 540 | 0.15 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $57,710 | $81,390 | $103,520 | $138,880 | $174,250 | $113,650 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $31.63 | $38.92 | $48.85 | $60.83 | $63.69 | $49.75 | 160 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| Annual | $65,790 | $80,960 | $101,610 | $126,530 | $132,470 | $103,480 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $30.98 | $38.30 | $48.16 | $55.33 | $63.43 | $49.06 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.44 |
| Annual | $64,430 | $79,670 | $100,160 | $115,080 | $131,920 | $102,050 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.10 | $36.72 | $47.42 | $63.16 | $85.30 | $53.72 | 5,760 | 0.59 | 4.31 |
| Annual | $62,610 | $76,370 | $98,640 | $131,370 | $177,430 | $111,740 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $28.45 | $35.42 | $45.26 | $50.59 | $63.94 | $45.32 | 360 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $59,180 | $73,670 | $94,140 | $105,220 | $132,990 | $94,270 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 6,470 | 0.36 | 2.57 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.10 | $36.72 | $47.42 | $63.16 | $85.30 | $53.72 | 5,760 | 0.59 | 4.31 |
| Annual | $62,610 | $76,370 | $98,640 | $131,370 | $177,430 | $111,740 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $13.54 | $18.99 | $19.25 | $30.39 | $47.41 | $26.25 | 1,850 | 0.13 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $28,170 | $39,490 | $40,040 | $63,210 | $98,620 | $54,600 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.32 | $19.78 | $20.68 | $30.86 | $39.58 | $25.65 | 1,100 | 0.11 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $27,710 | $41,130 | $43,020 | $64,190 | $82,330 | $53,350 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 860 | 0.44 | 3.17 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | Hourly | $20.99 | $42.50 | $52.03 | $66.57 | $81.47 | $53.98 | 70 | 0.33 | 2.39 |
| Annual | $43,660 | $88,400 | $108,220 | $138,460 | $169,460 | $112,270 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $33.56 | $40.96 | $51.27 | $66.77 | $85.70 | $57.05 | 480 | 0.18 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $69,790 | $85,200 | $106,630 | $138,880 | $178,250 | $118,650 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.41 | $38.51 | $49.22 | $60.49 | $62.23 | $51.09 | 450 | 0.19 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $61,180 | $80,110 | $102,370 | $125,810 | $129,440 | $106,270 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.23 | $37.15 | $47.86 | $63.44 | $85.59 | $54.35 | 5,540 | 0.58 | 4.23 |
| Annual | $62,880 | $77,280 | $99,560 | $131,960 | $178,030 | $113,040 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $28.45 | $36.91 | $47.80 | $50.59 | $59.20 | $44.94 | 250 | 0.16 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $59,180 | $76,780 | $99,420 | $105,220 | $123,130 | $93,470 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.23 | $37.15 | $47.86 | $63.44 | $85.59 | $54.35 | 5,540 | 0.58 | 4.23 |
| Annual | $62,880 | $77,280 | $99,560 | $131,960 | $178,030 | $113,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 5,050 | 0.81 | 5.84 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.97 | $18.99 | $30.39 | $41.53 | $63.87 | $33.50 | 590 | 0.15 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $39,450 | $39,490 | $63,210 | $86,390 | $132,850 | $69,680 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $33.56 | $40.96 | $51.27 | $66.77 | $85.70 | $57.05 | 480 | 0.18 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $69,790 | $85,200 | $106,630 | $138,880 | $178,250 | $118,650 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $29.41 | $38.51 | $49.22 | $60.49 | $62.23 | $51.09 | 450 | 0.19 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $61,180 | $80,110 | $102,370 | $125,810 | $129,440 | $106,270 | ||||
Top industries employing fashion designers
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers employ 27.0% of fashion designers nationally (5,790 jobs) with no published median there, followed by Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers (23.5%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (18.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers NAICS 458100 | 5,790 | 27.0% | * | * |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 424300 | 5,040 | 23.5% | $91,020 | $43.76 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 3,890 | 18.1% | $105,350 | $50.65 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing NAICS 315200 | 2,180 | 10.2% | $79,020 | $37.99 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 1,110 | 5.2% | $99,310 | $47.74 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (21,450). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $77,450 for fashion designers in May 2021 and $80,960 in May 2025, with employment of 19,310 and 21,450.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $77,450 | $37.24 | 19,310 |
| May 2022 | $76,700 | $36.87 | 20,560 |
| May 2023 | $79,290 | $38.12 | 19,940 |
| May 2024 | $80,690 | $38.79 | 20,910 |
| May 2025 | $80,960 | $38.92 | 21,450 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
30 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts profile | $49.77 | $103,520 | $57,710 | $174,250 | 540 | 0.15 | 1.08 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $48.85 | $101,610 | $65,790 | $132,470 | 160 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $48.16 | $100,160 | $64,430 | $131,920 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.44 |
| 4 | New York profile | $47.42 | $98,640 | $62,610 | $177,430 | 5,760 | 0.59 | 4.31 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $45.26 | $94,140 | $59,180 | $132,990 | 360 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $45.25 | $94,120 | $50,410 | $118,490 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| 7 | Ohio profile | $39.45 | $82,050 | $43,820 | $93,070 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.11 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $39.44 | $82,030 | $55,080 | $136,830 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $39.19 | $81,510 | $45,040 | $194,570 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| 10 | Vermont profile | $38.27 | $79,610 | $50,940 | $99,810 | 60 | 0.18 | 1.32 |
| 11 | Georgia profile | $37.66 | $78,340 | $48,860 | $152,970 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| 12 | North Carolina profile | $36.05 | $74,990 | $32,280 | $195,590 | 460 | 0.09 | 0.68 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.69 | $63,840 | $48,520 | $133,820 | 320 | 0.05 | 0.38 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $30.50 | $63,430 | $31,800 | $102,330 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| 15 | Kansas profile | $28.44 | $59,150 | $48,860 | $104,620 | 40 | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| 16 | Wisconsin profile | $27.42 | $57,030 | $37,950 | $75,770 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.30 |
| 17 | Maine profile | $23.81 | $49,530 | $31,770 | $124,210 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.35 |
| 18 | Hawaii profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $43,100 | $74,990 | ** | ** | ** |
| 19 | Arizona profile | $21.98 | $45,720 | $38,830 | $61,650 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | Florida profile | $20.68 | $43,020 | $27,710 | $82,330 | 1,100 | 0.11 | 0.80 |
| 21 | Minnesota profile | $20.25 | $42,110 | $42,110 | $56,080 | 420 | 0.14 | 1.02 |
| 22 | Indiana profile | $19.59 | $40,740 | $39,190 | $85,580 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| 23 | Texas profile | $19.25 | $40,040 | $28,170 | $98,620 | 1,850 | 0.13 | 0.95 |
| – | Arkansas profile | * | * | * | * | 190 | 0.15 | 1.08 |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 6,470 | 0.36 | 2.57 |
| – | Kentucky profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.06 | 0.43 |
| – | Maryland profile | * | * | * | * | 120 | 0.05 | 0.32 |
| – | Missouri profile | * | * | * | * | 200 | 0.07 | 0.48 |
| – | Oregon profile | * | * | * | * | 860 | 0.44 | 3.17 |
| – | Utah profile | * | * | * | * | 430 | 0.25 | 1.80 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1022 Fashion Designers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.