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Hourly Wage for Apparel Designer IV Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Apparel Designer IV?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for an Apparel Designer IV in the United States is $65, which translates to an annual salary of about $135,600.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60 to $69 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Apparel Designer IV Salaries

An Apparel Designer IV's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Apparel Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Apparel Designer IV's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Apparel Designer II (2-4 years): $75,833
  • Apparel Designer III (4-7 years): $97,360
  • Apparel Designer IV (7+ years): $135,534
  • Manager of Apparel (7+ years): $128,677
  • Senior Manager of Apparel (7+ years): $160,332
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Apparel Designer II2-4 years$75,833
Apparel Designer III4-7 years$97,360
Apparel Designer IV7+ years$135,534
Manager of Apparel7+ years$128,677
Senior Manager of Apparel7+ years$160,332
View as Graph

How Do Apparel Designer IV Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Apparel Designer IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $150,100.
  • California: $149,500.
  • Massachusetts: $147,600.

Top Paying Cities for Apparel Designer IVs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $171,000
  • San Francisco: $169,100
  • Oakland: $165,600

What Skills Can Increase an Apparel Designer IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 8.92% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Prototyping (Mentioned in 3.69% Job Postings): Creating a sample product that may be tested to discover potential problems and avoid mistakes.
  • InDesign (Mentioned in 1.85% Job Postings): nDesign is a desktop publishing software application for creating flyers, brochures, magazines, newspapers, and books. Projects created using InDesign can be shared in both digital and print formats.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 8.92%
Prototyping 3.69%
InDesign 1.85%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Apparel Designer IV's salary.

  • Photoshop: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Photoshop $172,212
27%
Adobe Photoshop $170,856
26%
Team Management $169,500
25%
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Apparel Designer IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Apparel Designer IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $149,437. While startup companies pay approximate $126,435.

Apparel Designer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $126,435
Growth Stage 51~500 $133,710
Established 501~5000 $144,274
Enterprise 5000+ $149,437

Apparel Designer IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Apparel Designer IV roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Apparel Designer positions in MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Apparel Designer IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Apparel Designer IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$162,720$78.020%

Apparel Designer IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Apparel Designer IV's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$125,700
Average $135,600/year
$142,500
$10,475
Average $11,300/month
$11,875
$2,417
Average $2,608/week
$2,740
$60
Average $65/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $142,500 $11,875 $2,740 $69
Average $135,600 $11,300 $2,608 $65
25th Percentile $125,700 $10,475 $2,417 $60

Most common benefits for Apparel Designer IV

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Apparel Designer IV

Here are companies hiring for Apparel Designer IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Apparel Designer IV

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Apparel Designer IV?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Apparel Designer IV roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. What is the highest salary in NIKE?

The highest salary for an Apparel Designer is $144,600 per year. The lowest salary in this role starts at $113,800, while the average salary is around $130,600. This reflects the competitive compensation structure for design professionals in the apparel industry.

3. How much do NIKE Color Designer 2 make a year?

The salary for an Apparel Designer ranges from a minimum of $113,800 to a maximum of $144,600, with a mid-range salary of $130,600. This indicates that the compensation for a Color Designer II at NIKE may be lower than the average for this role, which is estimated at $82,010 per year in the United States.

4. Can you make money selling t-shirt designs?

Yes, you can make money selling t-shirt designs. With online tools available, starting a t-shirt business is easier than ever. By targeting a specific audience and creating appealing designs, you can generate income. As an apparel designer, salaries range from $113,800 to $144,600, reflecting the potential profitability in this creative field.

5. How do clothing designers make money?

Fashion designers create collections of clothing and accessories that they sell to retailers, boutiques, or directly to consumers. Their earnings can vary significantly, with salaries typically ranging from $113,800 to $144,600, depending on experience and market demand. They profit from the sale of products, including ready-to-wear and haute couture designs.

6. What is the highest paid designer?

The highest-paid designer is an Apparel Designer, with a salary range from $113,800 to $144,600. The average salary is approximately $130,600. This positions them among the top earners in the design field, surpassing many other design roles such as game designers and UI/UX designers.

7. How much does shein pay designers?

SHEIN's pay for designers appears to be lower than the industry standard. Based on salary data for apparel designers, the minimum salary is approximately $113,800, the mid-salary is around $130,600, and the maximum salary can reach $144,600. This indicates that SHEIN's compensation may not align with typical market rates for this role.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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