Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Fashion Designers
Also called: Apparel and Accessories Designer, Apparel Designer, Costume Designer, Designer
US median pay
$80,960
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+0.1%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
2,500
32,700 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.
- Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Negotiation3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Service Orientation3.5/5
Knowledge
- Design4.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Sales and Marketing3.2/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Fine Arts2.7/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree51%
- Associate's degree44%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.