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Arts, Design, Media, and Sports

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Fashion Designers
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Median pay

$80,690
Median annual pay for Fashion Designers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

2%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

2,300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

25,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Fashion Designers in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+500
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical education needed to enter Fashion Designers.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Critical Thinking
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Active Learning
  5. 5Reading Comprehension
  6. 6Monitoring

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Design
  2. 2Computers and Electronics
  3. 3Production and Processing
  4. 4Sales and Marketing
  5. 5English Language
  6. 6Fine Arts

Abilities

  1. 1Originality
  2. 2Fluency of Ideas
  3. 3Oral Expression
  4. 4Written Comprehension
  5. 5Near Vision
  6. 6Oral Comprehension

Career interests

  1. 1Artistic
  2. 2Realistic
  3. 3Enterprising
  4. 4Conventional
  5. 5Social
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Innovation
  2. 2Adaptability
  3. 3Attention to Detail
  4. 4Achievement Orientation
  5. 5Self-Confidence
  6. 6Initiative

Work activities

  1. 1Thinking Creatively
  2. 2Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  3. 3Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  4. 4Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  5. 5Getting Information
  6. 6Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Time Pressure
  3. 3Spend Time Sitting
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative 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.
  • Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  • Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandAdobe Creative Cloud software · in demandAdobe Illustrator · in demandAdobe InDesign · in demandAdobe Photoshop · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologySAS · hot technologyJavaScript · hot technologyAutodesk Revit · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.