Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
As of October 2025, the average salary for a clothes designer in the United States is $61,319 annually. This figure represents a typical hourly pay of $29. However, salaries can vary based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specialization within the fashion industry.
Entry-level clothes designers typically earn around $45,000 per year, while seasoned professionals can command salaries upwards of $80,000. The highest-paying sectors often include luxury fashion houses and international brands.
Geographic location plays a crucial role in salary variations. States like California and New York are known for offering higher salaries due to their vibrant fashion markets. Conversely, regions with less industry presence may offer lower compensation.
Understanding the salary landscape for clothes designers can help you make informed career decisions. By continuously developing your skills and staying updated on industry trends, you can enhance your earning potential and career satisfaction.
Let Zippi find your next clothes designer job
Let Zippi find your next clothes designer job
The average clothes designer salary in Nevada, Oregon, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average clothes designer salary states are Tennessee, Alabama, and Minnesota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $78,111 | $37.55 |
| 2 | Washington | $72,148 | $34.69 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| 4 | Nevada | $83,705 | $40.24 |
| 5 | Utah | $68,124 | $32.75 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $75,632 | $36.36 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $72,949 | $35.07 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $72,759 | $34.98 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $67,496 | $32.45 |
| 10 | California | $69,524 | $33.42 |
| 11 | New York | $64,848 | $31.18 |
| 12 | Delaware | $74,373 | $35.76 |
| 13 | Idaho | $68,563 | $32.96 |
| 14 | Maine | $63,298 | $30.43 |
| 15 | Missouri | $59,781 | $28.74 |
| 16 | Vermont | $61,632 | $29.63 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $59,325 | $28.52 |
| 18 | Ohio | $54,025 | $25.97 |
| 19 | Texas | $54,668 | $26.28 |
| 20 | Alaska | $63,405 | $30.48 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $58,874 | $28.30 |
| 23 | Maryland | $57,391 | $27.59 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $56,977 | $27.39 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $52,914 | $25.44 |
| 26 | Arizona | $53,645 | $25.79 |
| 27 | Michigan | $49,511 | $23.80 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $53,171 | $25.56 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $53,346 | $25.65 |
| 30 | Georgia | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| 31 | Colorado | $51,405 | $24.71 |
| 32 | Virginia | $50,414 | $24.24 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $52,754 | $25.36 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $47,585 | $22.88 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $49,985 | $24.03 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $45,163 | $21.71 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $46,895 | $22.55 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $50,382 | $24.22 |
| 39 | Montana | $50,687 | $24.37 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $49,401 | $23.75 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $50,831 | $24.44 |
| 42 | Indiana | $48,481 | $23.31 |
| 43 | Florida | $46,826 | $22.51 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $46,426 | $22.32 |
| 45 | Illinois | $39,466 | $18.97 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $46,815 | $22.51 |
| 48 | Alabama | $45,218 | $21.74 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $48,069 | $23.11 |
| 50 | Kansas | $38,796 | $18.65 |
| 51 | Iowa | $38,458 | $18.49 |
The highest-paying cities for clothes designers are Industry, CA, New York, NY, and Urban Honolulu, HI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industry, CA | $66,954 | $32.19 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $65,096 | $31.30 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $48,106 | $23.13 |
A clothes designer's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $100,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $61,319 | $5,110 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
The highest paying types of clothes designers are fashion director, fashion design internship, and shoe designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Stylist | $45,524 | $3,794 | $21.89 | 13,031 |
| Fashion Internship | $49,534 | $4,128 | $23.81 | 49,151 |
| Graphic Designer | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | 45,625 |
| Fashion Designer | $54,265 | $4,522 | $26.09 | 49,476 |
| Apparel Designer | $65,467 | $5,456 | $31.47 | 46,436 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
Top companies hiring clothes designers now:
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G-III Apparel Group | $77,416 | $37.22 |
| 2 | Ava | $58,163 | $27.96 |
The average clothes designer salary has risen by $8,995 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clothes designer earned $52,324 annually, but today, they earn $61,319 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for clothes designers over the last decade.
Compare clothes designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare clothes designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,300 | $29.48 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $59,700 | $28.69 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $58,800 | $28.28 | +7.3% |
| 2022 | $54,500 | $26.22 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $52,700 | $25.34 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Madden, Ltd. | Technical Designer, Private Label-Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 05/05/2025 | $100,000 |
| Externalcareersite | Designer-Temp, Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 12/09/2024 | $75,132 |
| Steven Madden, Ltd. | Designer-Temp, Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 11/20/2024 | $75,132 |
| Externalcareersite | Temp Designer-Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 10/27/2024 | $75,132 |
| Blackbird Recruiting | Clothing Designer | Monsey, NY | 10/18/2024 | $80,000 |
| Department of Defense | Clothing Designer (Patterns) | Philadelphia, PA | 10/17/2024 | $79,839 |
| Externalcareersite | Temp Designer-Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 09/29/2024 | $75,132 |
| Department of Defense | Clothing Designer (Patterns) | Philadelphia, PA | 09/24/2024 | $95,694 |
| Steven Madden, Ltd. | Designer-Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 09/18/2024 | $80,000 |
| Externalcareersite | Temp Designer-Almost Famous Clothing | New York, NY | 08/28/2024 | $75,132 |
Search for clothes designer jobs