Fashion Designers
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Also called: Accessories Designer, Apparel Accessories Specialist, Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Apparel Product Developer, Apparel Technical Designer
Median pay
$80,960
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$39,490 – $146,870
People employed
21,450
Holland code
ARE
Artistic · Realistic · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Fashion Designers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (23 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What fashion designers do
- 01Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- 02Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- 03Determine prices for styles.
- 04Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- 05Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- 06Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Adaptability
- Innovation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 3 months, up to and including 6 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from fashion designers
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance76% · +20%
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers68% · −22%
- Film and Video Editors66% · −7%
- Music Directors and Composers64% · −9%
- Producers and Directors62% · +12%
Change into fashion designers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers75% · $62,750
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance75% · $97,150
- Choreographers72% · $55,310
- Costume Attendants72% · $50,400
- Film and Video Editors68% · $75,420
Majors that lead here
- Apparel and Textile Manufacture
- Textile Science
- Fashion and Fabric Consultant
- Fashion/Apparel Design
- Costume Design
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.