How Much Does a Fashion Designer Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$80,960
Fashion designers in the U.S. earn a median of $80,960 a year, or $38.92 an hour. Half of fashion designers earn more than $80,960 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $146,870.
Pay percentiles for fashion designers
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.99 | $39,490 |
| 25th | $24.97 | $51,940 |
| 50th (median) | $38.92 | $80,960 |
| 75th | $51.19 | $106,470 |
| 90th | $70.61 | $146,870 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Fashion Designers (SOC 27-1022). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for fashion designers
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $103,520 | $49.77 | +28% |
| New Jersey | $101,610 | $48.85 | +26% |
| New Hampshire | $100,160 | $48.16 | +24% |
| New York | $98,640 | $47.42 | +22% |
| Colorado | $94,140 | $45.26 | +16% |
| Virginia | $94,120 | $45.25 | +16% |
| Ohio | $82,050 | $39.45 | +1% |
| Washington | $82,030 | $39.44 | +1% |
| Connecticut | $81,510 | $39.19 | +1% |
| Vermont | $79,610 | $38.27 | −2% |
| United States | $80,960 | $38.92 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many fashion designers are there?
BLS counts about 21,450 fashion designers employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). The most jobs are in California (6,470), New York (5,760) and Texas (1,850).
The mean (average) annual wage is $91,230, higher than the median of $80,960.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,747
- Biweekly
- $3,114
- Weekly
- $1,557
- Daily (8 hours)
- $311
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fashion designers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for fashion designers is $38.92. The middle 50% earn between $24.97 and $51.19 an hour.
Which state pays fashion designers the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median wage for fashion designers at $103,520, +28% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for fashion designers?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of fashion designers earn less than $39,490 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.