Fashion Designer salary
From 130 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-1022: Fashion Designers
- Also filed as: Associate Designer
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 55% of Fashion Designer filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 8% since FY2020. From $65,000 in FY2020 to $70,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Fashion Designer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 130 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Fashion Designer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-1022, Fashion Designers). The median base salary is $70,000, 43% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $60,000 and $85,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 55% of filings.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 55% of filings
Mid-level · 34% of filings
Senior · 11% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $61,277 | 67 |
| Level II · Qualified | $82,181 | 41 |
| Level III · Experienced | $115,000 | 13 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Fashion Designer pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 2 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $70,262 | 77 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $60,798 | 30 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Fashion Designer does
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Typical tasks
- Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
- Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
- Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
- Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
- Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
- Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
Preparation
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
O*NET occupation: Fashion Designers (27-1022.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Fashion Designers), the median annual wage was $80,960 in May 2025, with 21,450 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $70,000, 14% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,672 | $39,490 |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 | $51,940 |
| Median | $70,000 | $80,960 |
| 75th percentile | $85,000 | $106,470 |
| 90th percentile | $121,247 | $146,870 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,672 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $85,000 |
| 90th | $121,247 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $65,000 | $49,960 | $75,000 | 123 |
| FY2021 | $69,930 | $49,400 | $80,000 | 118 |
| FY2022 | $70,131 | $52,000 | $85,959 | 98 |
| FY2023 | $67,600 | $54,070 | $87,500 | 75 |
| FY2024 | $67,683 | $54,288 | $82,060 | 83 |
| FY2025 | $69,900 | $56,014 | $83,025 | 82 |
| FY2026 | $70,000 | $62,691 | $89,270 | 48 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Fashion Designer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Fashion Designer jobs is $70,000 (130 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $60,000 and $85,000.
What does an entry-level Fashion Designer earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $61,277. Level I accounts for 55% of Fashion Designer filings.
Do H-1B Fashion Designers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($70,000) is 14% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($80,960, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.