upper level job

Apparel Designer IV Salary in California

How much does an Apparel Designer IV make in California?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apparel Designer IV in California is $149,500 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $72.

However, an Apparel Designer IV's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $164,019
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $138,600 to $157,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $128,676
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $138,600 10% $128,676 90% $164,019 75% $157,100 $149,500 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Apparel Designer IV Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $157,100 $13,092 $3,021 $76
Average $149,500 $12,458 $2,875 $72
25th Percentile $138,600 $11,550 $2,665 $67
Check out Apparel Designer IV Job Openings in California
Apparel Designer

Jerry Leigh of California - Los Angeles, CA

Apparel Designer

The Workshop LA - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Technical Designer Apparel

Clare V. - Los Angeles, CA

Apparel Graphic Designer

True Religion - El Segundo, CA

Search More Apparel Designer IV Jobs in California

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): $83,626
  • Apparel Designer III (4-7 years): $107,381
  • Apparel Designer IV (7+ years): $149,460
  • Manager of Apparel (7+ years): $141,913
  • Senior Manager of Apparel (7+ years): $176,811
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Apparel Designer II2-4 years$83,626
Apparel Designer III4-7 years$107,381
Apparel Designer IV7+ years$149,460
Manager of Apparel7+ years$141,913
Senior Manager of Apparel7+ years$176,811
$83,626 Apparel D...
$107,381 Apparel D...
$149,460 Apparel D...
$141,913 Manager o...
$176,811 Senior Ma...
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

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:

  • Los Angeles: $149,800
  • West Hollywood: $149,700
  • Dodgertown: $149,800

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 $165,518. While startup companies pay approximate $139,887.

Apparel Designer IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$139,887
Growth Stage51~500$147,982
Established501~5000$159,807
Enterprise5000+$165,518

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$179,400$86.020%

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 August 01, 2026

Apparel Designer IV Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Apparel Designer IV, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Manager of Apparel role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $142,000 - a projected growth of -5% over your current level.

Find Your Next Apparel Designer IV Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Apparel Designer IV job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Image Solutions, Inc.

    Long Beach, CA

    Image Solutions, Inc. | Long Beach, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Position Summary. The Designer is a hands-on creative contributor responsible for supporting apparel, graphic, promotiona... more

    5 Days Ago

  • JAST APPAREL INC

    Los Angeles, CA

    JAST APPAREL INC | Los Angeles, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Technical Designer to join our team. The Technical Designer serves as th... more

    5 Days Ago

  • True Religion

    El Segundo, CA

    True Religion | El Segundo, CA

    A global apparel company is seeking a Graphic Designer to create original artwork for apparel graphics and collaborate cross-functionally.The ideal candida... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Spiritual Gangster

    Los Angeles, CA

    Spiritual Gangster | Los Angeles, CA

    Job Description. Job Description. Company Introduction. Inspired by yogis, athletes, artists, and musicians worldwide, we create collections to encourage t... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Geodis

    BRENTWOOD, TN

    Geodis | BRENTWOOD, TN

    Engineer IV - Warehouse Control Systems Who We Are: GEODIS specializes in unlocking business value in a complex world, ensuring seamless movement of goods ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • Cyntergy

    TULSA, OK

    Cyntergy | TULSA, OK

    ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER LOCATION | Tulsa, OK REPORTS TO | Director of Architecture TEAM | Architecture POSITION SUMMARY At Cyntergy, you’ll be involved in a... more

    10 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In California

Cost of Living in California is
10.3% Higher
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator
Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting
See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst
lower level job