Jobs Similar to Fashion Designers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to fashion designers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Art Directors, Graphic Designers and Interior Designers.
Fashion Designers: $80,960 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Fashion Designers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art DirectorsSame group | 80% | $114,850+42% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Graphic DesignersSame group | 80% | $62,960−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Interior DesignersSame group | 77% | $67,190−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Set and Exhibit DesignersSame group | 76% | $75,240−7% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsSame group | 74% | $102,030+26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 72% | $97,150+20% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Choreographers | 72% | $55,310−32% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Film and Video Editors | 71% | $75,420−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSame group | 71% | $39,390−51% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Floral DesignersSame group | 71% | $37,360−54% | High school |
| 11 | Music Directors and Composers | 69% | $73,710−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSame group | 68% | $55,490−31% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Costume Attendants | 67% | $50,400−38% | High school |
| 14 | Producers and Directors | 67% | $90,360+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Commercial and Industrial DesignersSame group | 67% | $83,910+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Photographers | 66% | $44,660−45% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Video Game Designers | 66% | $104,000Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | 65% | $62,750−22% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Editors | 64% | $77,920−4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Desktop Publishers | 63% | $55,290−32% | Training or associate |
- 1Art Directors
80% similar · $114,850 (+42%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Graphic Designers
80% similar · $62,960 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Interior Designers
77% similar · $67,190 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Set and Exhibit Designers
76% similar · $75,240 (−7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Special Effects Artists and Animators
74% similar · $102,030 (+26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 6Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
72% similar · $97,150 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 7Choreographers
72% similar · $55,310 (−32%) · Training or associate
- 8Film and Video Editors
71% similar · $75,420 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
71% similar · $39,390 (−51%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Floral Designers
71% similar · $37,360 (−54%) · High school · Same group
- 11Music Directors and Composers
69% similar · $73,710 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
68% similar · $55,490 (−31%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 13Costume Attendants
67% similar · $50,400 (−38%) · High school
- 14Producers and Directors
67% similar · $90,360 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Commercial and Industrial Designers
67% similar · $83,910 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Photographers
66% similar · $44,660 (−45%) · Training or associate
- 17Video Game Designers
66% similar · $104,000 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
65% similar · $62,750 (−22%) · Training or associate
- 19Editors
64% similar · $77,920 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Desktop Publishers
63% similar · $55,290 (−32%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than fashion designers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for fashion designers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where fashion designers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like fashion designers
What jobs are most similar to fashion designers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Art Directors (80% similar), Graphic Designers (80% similar), Interior Designers (77% similar), Set and Exhibit Designers (76% similar) and Special Effects Artists and Animators (74% similar).
Which jobs like fashion designers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Art Directors ($114,850, +42%; usually a bachelor's degree), Special Effects Artists and Animators ($102,030, +26%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Makeup Artists ($97,150, +20%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with fashion designers ($80,960). Without more preparation than fashion designers usually need: Makeup Artists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.