What is the Salary of a Fashion Designer?

So,  you’re passion is fashion design?

And now you’re wondering – what is the salary of a fashion designer?

 A Fashion Designer’s salary is mainly based on three different factors – location, education/experience, and the type of company you are working for.

• Location

  The location of your new Fashion Design position makes all the difference in your salary. In the United States, most jobs in the fashion industry are going to be located in New York City or Los Angeles. Jobs in NYC usually pay more than in L.A., but it also costs significantly more to live in NYC. There are also jobs scattered throughout cities like Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, and Miami. Sometimes jobs in these areas can pay more than in Los Angeles or New York simply because its harder to recruit candidates to those locations. Based on my experience, the average Fashion Designer’s salary in Los Angeles is about $70,000. This doesn’t include any bonuses that a designer may receive in addition to their base salary because that number can vary greatly.

• Education & Experience

  Your education and experience in the industry also will influence your salary. The feeling I get in the industry in L.A. is that experience is given more importance over education. Most employers don’t really care whether you did a 2 year, 4 year, or dropped out before you finished your program, IF you have the experience. But, when exploring jobs in other areas such as NYC or Dallas, or the Midwest, I found that they were still very interested in the education I had received no matter how much experience I had. Starting out as an entry-level Fashion Designer (you will most likely be an assistant), your average salary will be about $30,000-$40,000. Once you have a few years experience and reach mid-level, you’re salary will be about $40,000 – $60,000.  After you have over 7 years of experience, on average a Fashion Designer can make anywhere from $60,000 – $120,000. It is possible to make even more than that as well depending on the company you’re working for.

• Type of Company

   The type of company you work for will directly impact your salary. If you work at a smaller start-up company, your salary will be a lot less than if you work for an already established corporate company. Also, you may choose to freelance and work with many different companies. Freelancers usually charge more, but it usually evens out since the work is not always steady and you will have to pay for your own benefits. 

What have you discovered about Fashion Designer salaries?