Arts, design, media and sports
Fashion designer
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Median pay
$80,960
Growth to 2035
0%
little or no change
Openings a year
2,500
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Fashion designer
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Fashion designer: 49% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
- Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
- Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
Also called: Apparel and Accessories Designer · Apparel Designer · Costume Designer · Designer · Fashion Design Contractor · Fashion Designer · Fashion Graphic Designer · Fashion Stylist
Outlook and AI
Fashion designers held 32,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 32,800 by 2035 (0%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share increases as an expected increase in demand for a constant flow of new fashion designs has been accelerated by social media influencers and by retailers advertising and selling directly to consumers online.
Compare with
- Fashion designer vs. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Fashion designer vs. Commercial and industrial designers
- Fashion designer vs. Craft artist
- Fashion designer vs. Graphic designer
- Fashion designer vs. Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
- Fashion designer vs. Costume attendant
- Fashion designer vs. Interior designer
- Fashion designer vs. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers
- Fashion designer vs. Sewers, hand
- Fashion designer vs. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers