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Fashion Designer I Salary in the United States

How much does a Fashion Designer I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fashion Designer I in the United States is $61,410 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Fashion Designer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,130
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,770 to $66,498
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,635
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Fashion Designer I Salaries

A Fashion Designer I'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 Fashion Designer I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fashion Designer I'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:

  • Fashion Designer I (0-2 years): $61,410
  • Fashion Designer II (2-4 years): $75,817
  • Fashion Designer III (4-7 years): $97,354
  • Fashion Designer IV (7+ years): $135,503
  • Manager of Fashion Design (7+ years): $128,661
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Fashion Designer I0-2 years$61,410
Fashion Designer II2-4 years$75,817
Fashion Designer III4-7 years$97,354
Fashion Designer IV7+ years$135,503
Manager of Fashion Design7+ years$128,661
View as Graph

How Do Fashion Designer Is 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 Fashion Designer Is. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,993.
  • California: $67,735.
  • Massachusetts: $66,833.

Top Paying Cities for Fashion Designer I

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: $77,456
  • San Francisco: $76,608
  • Oakland: $74,994

What Skills Can Increase a Fashion Designer I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Products and Services (Mentioned in 6.87% Job Postings): Knowledge of the full array of our organization's products and services including those that are created for internal customers; insight into the differentiating factors that distinguish them from those of competitors.
  • Photoshop (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Photoshop is an image creation, graphic design and photo editing software developed by Adobe. It is used to demonstrate knowledge of image resolution, image size, and image file format for web, video, and print.
  • Illustrator (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Originally designed for the Apple Macintosh, development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985. Along with Creative Cloud, Illustrator CC was released.
Skills Demand Percentage
Products and Services 6.87%
Photoshop 2%
Illustrator 1.37%
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 a Fashion Designer I's salary.

  • Adobe: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Photoshop: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Adobe Creative Suite: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Adobe $77,377
26%
Photoshop $75,534
23%
Adobe Creative Suite $75,534
23%
Get Latest Data

Fashion Designer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Fashion Designer I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $67,990. While startup companies pay approximate $57,461.

Fashion Designer I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $57,461
Growth Stage 51~500 $60,786
Established 501~5000 $65,644
Enterprise 5000+ $67,990

Fashion Designer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Fashion Designer I 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, MFG Nondurable, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Fashion Designer positions in Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Fashion Designer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Fashion Designer I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$73,692$35.020%

Fashion Designer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Fashion Designer I'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
$55,770
Average $61,410/year
$66,498
$4,648
Average $5,118/month
$5,542
$1,073
Average $1,181/week
$1,279
$27
Average $30/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,498 $5,542 $1,279 $32
Average $61,410 $5,118 $1,181 $30
25th Percentile $55,770 $4,648 $1,073 $27

Fashion Designer I Salary Growth & Career Path

Fashion Designer I

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Advancement

For a Fashion Designer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Fashion Designer II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $75,817 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Fashion Designer I

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

Common company salaries for Fashion Designer I

Here are companies hiring for Fashion Designer I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Fashion Designer I

1. Where can a Fashion Designer I earn the most?

A Fashion Designer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Fashion Designer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Fashion Designer I is $77,456.

2. What is the highest pay for Fashion Designer I?

The highest pay for Fashion Designer I is $71,130.

3. What is the lowest pay for Fashion Designer I?

The lowest pay for Fashion Designer I is $50,635.

4. What are the responsibilities of Fashion Designer I?

Responsible for executing the fashion design strategy for an organization. Creates and manages multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product and ensures projects are aligned with the brand's identity. Presents design concepts and ideas to internal stakeholders. Effectively communicates design details to the product development and production teams. Determines final style, material, and color based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing teams. Ensures fashion designs meet high-quality standards and adhere to approved guidelines. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Fashion Designer I?

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Fashion Designer I roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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