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Role hub · Fashion Designers

Fashion Designer: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
Pay ladder · select a percentile
Median percentile pay

Half of fashion designers earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$80,960
Hourly
$38.92
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Fashion Designers design clothing and accessories. The median pay is $80,960 a year ($38.92 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a bachelor's degree (51% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$80,960
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
21,450
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 3 of 5
medium preparation
Most common education
Bachelor's Degree
51% of workers
Explore the role

Every page for Fashion Designers

SalaryFashion Designer salary

Pay by percentile, state and metro, with a negotiation script.

Open →How to becomeFashion Designer how to become

Education, training and the skills to build first.

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The work

What fashion designers do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
  2. Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
  3. Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
  4. Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
  5. Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
  6. Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
  7. Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  8. Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Active ListeningcoreSpeakingcoreCritical ThinkingcoreSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementActive LearningPersuasion

Knowledge areas: Design, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing, Sales and Marketing, English Language.

Tools and technology

Software fashion designers use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • Adobe Creative Cloud softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • Adobe IllustratorGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • Adobe InDesignDesktop publishing softwareIn demand
  • Adobe PhotoshopGraphics or photo imaging softwareIn demand
  • Autodesk RevitComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
  • SASAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • Trimble SketchUp ProComputer aided design CAD softwareHot technology
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Design SuiteComputer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk SketchBook ProGraphics or photo imaging software
  • C-DESIGN FashionComputer aided design CAD software
  • CLO Virtual Fashion Marvelous DesignerComputer aided design CAD software
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADDComputer aided design CAD software

Also called: Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Costume Designer, Designer, Fashion Design Contractor.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).