Fashion designers are the creative minds behind the clothes we wear. They create new styles and designs for clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. Whether it’s high-end couture or everyday basics, they have an impact on what we put in our closets every day. Being a fashion designer is not easy work – but it can be incredibly rewarding, especially in New York. It takes creativity and passion for designing something from scratch that people will love enough to buy, and if they do, you can make a lot of money by being in the fashion industry.
Fashion designers generally work normal hours like any other profession. But during fashion weeks, designers might have to work overtime as well to meet certain deadlines. Designers are paid according to their level of expertise; we can divide the level of expertise into the following four levels.
Beginner Level
Beginner-level designers are those individuals who are entering the fashion industry. Such individuals do not possess any field experience; rather, they are self-taught or have a certain degree or diploma. Beginner fashion designers are paid around $21 per hour or around $44K per year.
Junior Level
Junior-level designers have some experience in the field. Such resources are paid around $27 to $28 an hour or $57K per year.
Mid Level
Mid-level designers are seasoned designers who have spent a good amount of time in the fashion industry; they have experience working with famous brands, allowing them to gain the necessary exposure to reach the mentioned level. The salary for such designers starts at $33 an hour or around $69K per year.
Senior Level
Senior designers are the upper-level echelon of designers. They have amassed relevant industry experience by being a part of it for decades. Their salaries start around $48 an hour or roughly $99K per year.
The fashion industry in New York is a high-paying industry, which makes fashion designing a highly paid profession. The median salary of a fashion designer is around $69K per year, whereas the top 20% earn around $136k per year.
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