Apparel Technical Designer Salary in the United States

How much does an Apparel Technical Designer make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Apparel Technical Designer in the United States is $60,586 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,745
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,566 to $65,380
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,085
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View as table View as graph 25% $54,566 10% $49,085 90% $69,745 75% $65,380 $60,586 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Apparel Technical Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $65,380 $5,448 $1,257 $31
Average $60,586 $5,049 $1,165 $29
25th Percentile $54,566 $4,547 $1,049 $26

Key Factors That Influence Apparel Technical Designer Salaries

An Apparel Technical Designer'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 Technical Designer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Apparel Technical Designer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $61,004
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,309
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,708
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $134,595
  • Expert (over 8 years): $127,804
Levels Salary
Apparel T... Level Apparel Technical Designer$61,004
Fashion D... Level Apparel Technical Designer$75,309
Fashion D... Level Apparel Technical Designer$96,708
Fashion D... Level Apparel Technical Designer$134,595
Manager o... Level Apparel Technical Designer$127,804
$61,004 0 yr
$75,309 < 2 yrs
$96,708 2-4 yrs
$134,595 5-8 yrs
$127,804 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Apparel Technical Designers

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: $76,417
  • San Francisco: $75,580
  • Oakland: $73,987

What Skills Can Increase an Apparel Technical Designer'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Products and Services 6.87%
Photoshop 2%
Illustrator 1.37%
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 Technical Designer'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
$76,338
26%
Photoshop
$74,520
23%
Adobe Creative Suite
$74,520
23%
Illustrator
$73,915
22%
Product Development
$73,915
22%
AutoCAD
$73,309
21%
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Apparel Technical Designer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Apparel Technical Designer 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, Apparel Technical Designer positions in Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Apparel Technical Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Apparel Technical Designer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
MFG Nondurable$72,703$35.020%

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

Understanding how an Apparel Technical Designer'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Apparel Technical Designer

Salaries for an Apparel Technical Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $62,437 in 2023 to around $61,837 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Apparel Technical Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Apparel Technical Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$62,437
2024
$62,508
2025
$61,837
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $62,437
2024 $62,508
2025 $61,837
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Apparel Technical Designer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Apparel Technical Designer

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

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

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FAQ about Apparel Technical Designer

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

The MFG Nondurable industry offers the highest average compensation for Apparel Technical Designer 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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