How Much Does a Costume Designer Make in the United Kingdom? Salary Range, Hourly Rate and More
As of April 22, 2025, the average annual salary for a Costume Designer in the United Kingdom is £39,415, with an hourly rate of £19, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from £36,570 to £44,270, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.
Convert Currency to USD| Percentile | Salary | Location | Last Updated |
| 25th Percentile Costume Designer Salary | £36,570 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
| 50th Percentile Costume Designer Salary | £39,415 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
| 75th Percentile Costume Designer Salary | £44,270 | United Kingdom | April 22, 2025 |
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How Much Does a Costume Designer Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?
Last Updated on April 22, 2025Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Costume Designer salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Costume Designer is about £39,415 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of £19, a monthly salary of about £3,285, and a weekly pay of around £758. Click the switch button below to see more details about Costume Designer hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.
How Much Do Costume Designers Earn at Different Levels in 2025?
A Costume Designer's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn £38,141 - £39,923, while Intermediate make £38,481 - £40,502, Senior earn £39,118 - £41,589, Specialist earn £39,203 - £41,807, Expert can reach £39,331 - £41,951 or more, depending on the company and location.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Costume Designer | £39,203 |
| Intermediate Level Costume Designer | £39,560 |
| Senior Level Costume Designer | £40,647 |
| Specialist Level Costume Designer | £40,865 |
| Expert Level Costume Designer | £41,009 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Intermediate Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Specialist Level | 4% |
| Expert Level | 4% |
Which Job Pays More: Visual Designer or Costume Designer?
As of April 22, 2025 , a Visual Designer makes less than a Costume Designer. A Visual Designer earns an average annual salary of £33,919. And a Costume Designer earns an average annual salary of £39,415.
| Job Title | Salary Range in GBP |
|---|---|
| Visual Designer |
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| Graphic Designer II |
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| Graphic Designer III |
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| Senior Graphic Designer |
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| CAD Designer I |
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Frequently Asked Questions about Costume Designer Salaries
1. What GCSE do you need to be a Costume Designer?
You'll usually need: 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship. 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship.
2. How much do fashion designers get paid in the UK?
Starting salaries in the fashion industry are often low. Design assistants may start at around £16,000 to £18,000. A junior designer can expect to earn approximately £25,000 a year. Typical salaries at senior designer and creative director level range from around £42,000 to in excess of £85,000.
3. Who is the highest paid Costume Designer?
According to The-Numbers.com, the 23 movies in which Judianna Makovsky (USA) had been a costume designer had generated $11,336,882,740 (£8,145,370,000) at the worldwide box office as of 20 April 2021.
4. How much do costume designers get paid per film?
The better known they are, the more they can charge. The trade union Equity can help with negotiation. The BECTU website lists starting pay rate desirable for costume designers on a feature film (£1-4 million) as about £329.90 for a 10-hour day and £1,649.50 for a 5-day week (50 hours).