Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,490
- 25th Percentile — Junior$51,940
- 50th Percentile — Median$80,960
- 75th Percentile — Senior$106,470
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$146,870
The top 10% of Fashion Designers earn $146,870 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $39,490, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (est.) | $138,670 | +52.0% |
| California (est.) | $129,547 | +42.0% |
| Alaska (est.) | $120,424 | +32.0% |
| Massachusetts | $113,650 | +24.6% |
| New York | $111,740 | +22.5% |
| Maryland (est.) | $104,914 | +15.0% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $104,914 | +15.0% |
| New Jersey | $103,480 | +13.4% |
| Oregon (est.) | $102,178 | +12.0% |
| New Hampshire | $102,050 | +11.9% |
| Delaware (est.) | $95,792 | +5.0% |
| Illinois (est.) | $95,792 | +5.0% |
| Georgia | $95,070 | +4.2% |
| Connecticut | $94,620 | +3.7% |
| Colorado | $94,270 | +3.3% |
| Nevada (est.) | $93,055 | +2.0% |
| Utah (est.) | $91,230 | +0.0% |
| Washington | $90,130 | -1.2% |
| North Carolina | $87,590 | -4.0% |
| Virginia | $87,480 | -4.1% |
| Montana (est.) | $86,668 | -5.0% |
| Idaho (est.) | $84,844 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $84,844 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $83,932 | -8.0% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $80,282 | -12.0% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $80,282 | -12.0% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $80,282 | -12.0% |
| South Carolina (est.) | $80,282 | -12.0% |
| Tennessee (est.) | $80,282 | -12.0% |
| Alabama (est.) | $79,370 | -13.0% |
| Missouri (est.) | $79,370 | -13.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $79,370 | -13.0% |
| Iowa (est.) | $78,458 | -14.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $77,880 | -14.6% |
| Oklahoma (est.) | $76,633 | -16.0% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $75,721 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $75,721 | -17.0% |
| Vermont | $75,210 | -17.6% |
| Michigan | $74,660 | -18.2% |
| Ohio | $73,870 | -19.0% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $72,984 | -20.0% |
| Kansas | $71,770 | -21.3% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $71,159 | -22.0% |
| Maine | $59,620 | -34.6% |
| Wisconsin | $59,030 | -35.3% |
| Indiana | $56,210 | -38.4% |
| Texas | $54,600 | -40.2% |
| Florida | $53,350 | -41.5% |
| Hawaii | $52,820 | -42.1% |
| Arizona | $48,700 | -46.6% |
| Minnesota | $45,670 | -49.9% |
What Factors Affect Fashion Designers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Fashion Designers is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Massachusetts pays an average of $113,650, while Minnesota pays $45,670 — a gap of $67,980 per year.
The middle half of Fashion Designers earn between $51,940 and $106,470 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,490, while the top 10% earn more than $146,870.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Graphic Designers $70,560/yr United States 22.7% vs this role
- Art Directors $129,440/yr United States +41.9% vs this role
- Interior Designers $74,540/yr United States 18.3% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $113,300/yr United States +24.2% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $86,090/yr United States 5.6% vs this role
- Editors $90,060/yr United States 1.3% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States +11.2% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +50.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Fashion Designers?
The average salary for Fashion Designers in the United States is $91,230 per year, with a median of $80,960.
What is the starting salary for Fashion Designers?
Entry-level Fashion Designers typically earn between $39,490 and $51,940 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Fashion Designers the most?
Massachusetts pays Fashion Designers the most at $113,650 per year on average, followed by New York ($111,740) and New Jersey ($103,480).
How much do Fashion Designers make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $91,230, Fashion Designers earn approximately $43.86 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Fashion Designers a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 21,450 Fashion Designers jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $91,230 and a median of $80,960 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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