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Fashion Designer II Salary in the United States

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

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fashion Designer II in the United States is $75,833 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,104
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,510 to $83,303
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,932

Key Factors That Influence Fashion Designer II Salaries

A Fashion Designer II'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 II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fashion Designer II'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): $61,414
  • Fashion Designer II (2-4 years): $75,833
  • Fashion Designer III (4-7 years): $97,360
  • Fashion Designer IV (7+ years): $135,534
  • Manager of Fashion Design (7+ years): $128,677
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Fashion Designer I0-2 years$61,414
Fashion Designer II2-4 years$75,833
Fashion Designer III4-7 years$97,360
Fashion Designer IV7+ years$135,534
Manager of Fashion Design7+ years$128,677

How Do Fashion Designer II 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 IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $83,962.
  • California: $83,644.
  • Massachusetts: $82,529.

Top Paying Cities for Fashion Designer IIs

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: $95,648
  • San Francisco: $94,601
  • Oakland: $92,607

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Products and Services (Mentioned in 6.91% 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 1.9% 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.
  • Interior Design (Mentioned in 1.38% Job Postings): Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, research, communicating with the stakeholders of a project, construction management, and execution of the design.
Skills Demand Percentage
Products and Services 6.91%
Photoshop 1.9%
Interior Design 1.38%

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 II's salary.

  • Cold Calling: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Product Development: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Illustrator: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cold Calling $94,033
24%
Product Development $93,275
23%
Illustrator $91,758
21%

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

Fashion Designer II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $83,571. While startup companies pay approximate $70,708.

Fashion Designer II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $70,708
Growth Stage 51~500 $74,776
Established 501~5000 $80,684
Enterprise 5000+ $83,571

Fashion Designer II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Fashion Designer II roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Fashion Designer positions in MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Fashion Designer II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Fashion Designer II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$83,416$40.010%

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

Understanding how a Fashion Designer II'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
$67,510
Average $75,833/year
$83,303
$5,626
Average $6,319/month
$6,942
$1,298
Average $1,458/week
$1,602
$32
Average $36/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $83,303 $6,942 $1,602 $40
Average $75,833 $6,319 $1,458 $36
25th Percentile $67,510 $5,626 $1,298 $32

Fashion Designer II Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Fashion Designer II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Fashion Designer III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $97,360 - a projected growth of 28% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Fashion Designer II

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

Common company salaries for Fashion Designer II

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

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FAQ about Fashion Designer II

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

A Fashion Designer II'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 II earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Fashion Designer II is $95,648.

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

The highest pay for Fashion Designer II is $90,104.

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

The lowest pay for Fashion Designer II is $59,932.

4. What are the responsibilities of Fashion Designer II?

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. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

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

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Fashion Designer II roles, with salaries approximately 10% 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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