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What is a clothes designer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Gina Pisut Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a clothes designer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $29.48 an hour? That's $61,319 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 3% and produce 600 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a clothes designer?

Gina Pisut Ph.D.Gina Pisut Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Chair, Department of Human Sciences

3D Design and AI technology for fashion design and product development. Their use for improving cost, efficiency and customer experience is pivotal. However, there will never be a replacement for the human element that contributes to fashion creativity.
ScoreClothes DesignerUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $61,319

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.2

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.65%

Black or African American 7.34%

Hispanic or Latino 11.90%

Unknown 5.57%

White 63.04%

Gender

female 68.07%

male 31.93%

Age - 34
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 34
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Clothes designer career paths

Key steps to become a clothes designer

  1. Explore clothes designer education requirements

    Most common clothes designer degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.2 %

    Associate

    21.3 %

    High School Diploma

    8.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific clothes designer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service42.04%
    Process Payments15.50%
    Sketch14.75%
    Embroidery7.00%
    Photo Shoots4.94%
  3. Complete relevant clothes designer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clothes designers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clothes designer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clothes designer resumes.
  4. Research clothes designer duties and responsibilities

    • Customize technical packages with POM specifications, manage grading standards, assisting in costing the BOM, etc.
    • Create artwork for embroidery trim.
    • Utilize Facebook and Google Adwords to drive traffic and design corresponding print materials to promote boutique location.
    • Create collections of garments: evening and casual outfits (dresses, costumes, coats, trouser suits, etc . )
  5. Prepare your clothes designer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clothes designer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a clothes designer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable clothes designer resume templates

    Build a professional clothes designer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your clothes designer resume.
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
    Clothes Designer Resume
  6. Apply for clothes designer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a clothes designer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first clothes designer job

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Average clothes designer salary

The average clothes designer salary in the United States is $61,319 per year or $29 per hour. Clothes designer salaries range between $37,000 and $100,000 per year.

Average clothes designer salary
$61,319 Yearly
$29.48 hourly

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Clothes designer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Making people look sweet and smart


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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