Fashion Designers

Fashion designers earned median annual salaries of $79,290 in May 2023, according to the U.S Department of Labor. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,090; the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $160,850. Fifty percent of fashion designers earned between $58,440 and $107,260.

A few highly skilled and well-known designers at top firms earn annual incomes of more than $175,000. Top fashion designers who have successful lines of clothing can earn bonuses that bring their annual incomes into the millions. As designers become well known, they are usually offered a share of the ownership of the company for which they design. Their ownership percentage increases with their reputation.

Costume designers usually work on a contract basis. Although the compensation for the total contract is usually good, there may be long periods of idleness between contracts. Salaried costume designers earned $56,000 to $105,000 in 2024, according to GlassDoor.com.

Fashion designers who work for a company usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed designers must provide their own benefits.