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Fashion Careers, Jobs & Salaries

Fashion designers combine a knowledge of materials and styles with an artistic sensibility to design clothing and accessories.

Careers and Jobs

A fashion designer will typically study emerging trends, or consult with the needs of an individual client, before laying a design down on paper or on the computer. Most designers today use some kind of software (often computer-aided design tools, or CAD) to draft iniital designs. The flexibility afforded by such an approach allows designers to try alternatives, or quickly pull up colors or different textures. Computers save designers a lot of time, frustration, and money.

Designers either work for a firm of designers, own their own business (or work for someone who does), or work for an apparel manufacturing company.

Salaried designers (in firms or apparel companies) usually work more normal hours than independent designers. Independent designers have the added stress of seeking out clients, meeting clients in locations they select, and running a business. These independent designers may be busy with their business, but many prefer to be their own boss, and call the shots.

Some designers work for high-end boutiques. Most designers work for apparel manufacturers and design the regular men's, women's and children's lines one sees at clothing stores.

There are about 20,000 fashion designers in the U.S., a quarter of whom are self-employed. A large number of salaried workers also do freelance or independent work on top of holding down a salaried job. These side jobs may be a way to supplement income, or to work in a more creative capacity than their regular job allows.

Salaries

Fashion design is a difficult field to break into. Many talented people are attracted to the field; success requires tenacity and a true love of fashion. Those with formal education, especially bachelor's degrees, are more likely to find steady employment.

The average earnings for fashion designers are $71,170. The top 10% earn more than $121,640.

Other Jobs in the Apparel Industry

Designers and fashion merchandisers are the originators of the clothes we see on the racks and on runways. But to get from that original idea to the clothing a person wears involves dozens of additional actors:

Merchandise Displayers set up the window displays and in-store displays that may have attracted that person to the store, or that particular shirt, in the first place. According to the latest available numbers, there are approximately 68,660 merchandise displayers making an average of $27,370.

Patternmakers create the patterns, including the different sizes the clothing will come in. Markers lay out where the patterns will go, to minimize fabric waste. Cutters cut out the pieces. Much of this is automated today. The mean annual wage for patternmakers is $42,190.

Sewing Machine Operators assemble the clothing. Operators receive specific training, and today each one usually assembles the entire piece of clothing. Pressers iron out the wrinkles and shape the clothes. The average weekly wage in this field is $400 -- much less than the national average.And sewing machine operator job is under relentless outsourcing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment will decline nearly 30% through 2016.

Employment Outlook

The apparel industry is bleeding jobs faster than almost any other industry, as more and more companies send their garment-making overseas. Employment in the textile, textile product, and apparel manufacturing is expected to decline by 30% through 2016.

But jobs in fashion design and fashion merchandising are holding steady. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 5% growth in employment opportunites through 2016. Though competition is keen, and fewer jobs are available in high-fashion stores and boutiques, the best opportunities will be in design firms that design mass market clothing sold in department stores and retail chain stores.