Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Fashion Designers
Fashion Designers design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Table of contents
What they do
Fashion Designers design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Fashion Designers examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects. They design custom clothing and accessories for individuals, retailers, or theatrical, television, or film productions.
A typical day for a Fashion Designer will also include:
- Read scripts and consult directors and other production staff to develop design concepts and plan productions.
- Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Fashion Designers also visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date on the latest fabrics. They may also read scripts and consult directors and other production staff to develop design concepts and plan productions.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Fashion Designers determine prices for styles. They might also confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
In addition, they develop a group of products or accessories and market them through venues such as boutiques or mail-order catalogs.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them research the styles and periods of clothing needed for film or theatrical productions.
To some Fashion Designers, it is also their responsibility to adapt other designers’ ideas for the mass market.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
58% said they were satisfied with their job and 26% said they found their job meaningful.
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Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Demand for this career is declining.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Fashion Designers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $38,570 to $54,470 per year or $19 to $26 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $146,300 | $70 |
Senior (Top 25%) | $101,700 | $49 |
Median | $75,810 | $36 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $54,470 | $26 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $38,570 | $19 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Fashion Designers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $110780 | $53.26 |
Specialized Design Services | $109320 | $52.56 |
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $91550 | $44.01 |
Motion Picture and Video Industries | $90790 | $43.65 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | $89120 | $42.84 |
Employment Services | $88830 | $42.71 |
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $85260 | $40.99 |
Clothing Stores | $82010 | $39.43 |
Apparel Knitting Mills | $79840 | $38.39 |
General Merchandise Stores | $76640 | $36.85 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Fashion Designers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Fashion Designers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | 7090 | $85260 | $40.99 |
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3600 | $89120 | $42.84 |
Motion Picture and Video Industries | 2870 | $90790 | $43.65 |
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 1640 | $91550 | $44.01 |
Specialized Design Services | 1540 | $109320 | $52.56 |
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | 670 | $76110 | $36.59 |
Employment Services | 440 | $88830 | $42.71 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 320 | $64520 | $31.02 |
Performing Arts Companies | 300 | $57620 | $27.70 |
Rental and Leasing Services | 150 | $55170 | $26.53 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Costume Design
Fashion/Apparel Design
Apparel and Textile Manufacture
Textile Science
Fashion and Fabric Consultant
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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