Fashion Designer demographics and statistics in the US
Fashion designer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates fashion designer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our fashion designer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about fashion designers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 3,854 fashion designers currently employed in the United States.
- 82.7% of all fashion designers are women, while 17.3% are men.
- The average fashion designer age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of fashion designers is White (63.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (11.9%), Asian (11.6%) and Black or African American (7.3%).
- Fashion designers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The retail industry is the highest-paying for fashion designers.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $68,984, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women fashion designers earned 91% of what men earned.
- 18% of all fashion designers are LGBT.
- Washington is the best state for fashion designers to live.
- Fashion designers are 72% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On This Page
Fashion Designer demographics by:
Fashion Designer gender statistics
82.7% of fashion designers are women and 17.3% of fashion designers are men.
- Female, 82.7%
- Male, 17.3%
Fashion Designer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 82.7% |
| Male | 17.3% |
Fashion Designer gender pay gap
Women earn 91¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$61,763
Female Income
$55,989
Fashion Designer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in fashion designer positions over time. Currently, 82.7% of fashion designers are female.
Fashion Designer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 56.67% | 43.33% |
| 2011 | 56.92% | 43.08% |
| 2012 | 56.12% | 43.88% |
| 2013 | 58.53% | 41.47% |
| 2014 | 56.38% | 43.62% |
| 2015 | 57.12% | 42.88% |
| 2016 | 56.02% | 43.98% |
| 2017 | 55.05% | 44.95% |
| 2018 | 26.21% | 73.79% |
| 2019 | 20.10% | 79.90% |
| 2020 | 16.68% | 83.32% |
| 2021 | 17.33% | 82.67% |
Fashion Designer related jobs gender ratio
We compared fashion designers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, exhibit builder and senior industrial designer have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Decorating Consultant | 9% | 91% |
| Floral Designer | 11% | 89% |
| Floral Manager | 11% | 89% |
| Fashion Designer | 17% | 83% |
| Craftsman | 88% | 12% |
| Senior Industrial Designer | 91% | 9% |
| Exhibit Builder | 93% | 7% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Fashion Designer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among fashion designers is White, which makes up 63.0% of all fashion designers. Comparatively, 11.9% of fashion designers are Hispanic or Latino and 11.6% of fashion designers are Asian.
- White, 63.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 11.9%
- Asian, 11.6%
- Black or African American, 7.3%
- Unknown, 5.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Fashion Designer Race
| Fashion Designer Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 63.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.9% |
| Asian | 11.6% |
| Black or African American | 7.3% |
| Unknown | 5.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Fashion Designer race and ethnicity over time
See how fashion designer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Fashion Designer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 80.32% | 3.37% | 6.45% | 8.15% |
| 2011 | 79.15% | 3.38% | 7.00% | 8.33% |
| 2012 | 78.60% | 3.42% | 6.69% | 9.26% |
| 2013 | 79.01% | 3.39% | 7.37% | 8.05% |
| 2014 | 78.43% | 3.15% | 7.37% | 8.85% |
| 2015 | 77.58% | 3.31% | 7.11% | 9.89% |
| 2016 | 77.09% | 3.54% | 7.72% | 9.34% |
| 2017 | 77.04% | 3.17% | 8.01% | 9.29% |
| 2018 | 59.60% | 6.29% | 13.25% | 15.23% |
| 2019 | 57.46% | 7.46% | 17.16% | 13.18% |
| 2020 | 58.27% | 7.38% | 12.72% | 17.81% |
| 2021 | 63.04% | 7.34% | 11.65% | 11.90% |
Fashion Designer wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown fashion designers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White fashion designers have the lowest average salary at $56,008.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $71,651 |
| White | $56,008 |
| Black or African American | $59,218 |
| Asian | $57,532 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $65,736 |
Average fashion designer age
See how the average age of fashion designers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Fashion Designer age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 34 | 34.5 |
| Asian | 39 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 |
Fashion Designer age breakdown
The average age of fashion designers is 40+ years years old, representing 37% of the fashion designer population.
Fashion Designer age breakdown
| Fashion Designer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 37% |
| 30-40 years | 34% |
| 20-30 years | 27% |
Fashion Designer educational attainment
The most common degree for fashion designers is bachelor's degree, with 61% of fashion designers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 22% and associate degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 61%
- Associate, 22%
- Master's, 7%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Fashion Designers by degree level
| Fashion Designer Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 61% |
| Associate | 22% |
| Master's | 7% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Fashion Designer Jobs You Might Like
Fashion Designer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, fashion designers with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $67,570 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, fashion designers earn a median annual income of $66,710 compared to $51,961 for fashion designers with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $51,961 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $66,710 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $67,570 |
Fashion Designer employment statistics
Most fashion designers work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where fashion designers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where fashion designers work.
Fashion Designer jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 15% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 17% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 15% |
Fashion Designer jobs by company type
Employees with the fashion designer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most fashion designers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Fashion Designer jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 72% |
| Government | 1% |
Fashion Designer jobs by industry
The most common industries for fashion designers are retail, manufacturing and professional.
Fashion Designer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 45% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Media | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Finance | 3% |
| Automotive | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
Fashion Designer turnover and employment statistics
Fashion Designer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for fashion designers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Fashion Designer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Fashion Designer Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 9.84% |
| 2011 | 7.82% |
| 2012 | 7.12% |
| 2013 | 5.32% |
| 2014 | 4.78% |
| 2015 | 4.60% |
| 2016 | 4.15% |
| 2017 | 3.61% |
| 2018 | 5.28% |
| 2019 | 6.25% |
| 2020 | 12.09% |
| 2021 | 16.87% |
Average fashion designer tenure
The average fashion designer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,522 fashion designers resumes in Zippia's database.
Fashion Designer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 28% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Fashion Designer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of fashion designers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Artist | 11.32% | 7,209 |
| Show Design Supervisor | 12.35% | 37,552 |
| Graphic Designer, Marketing | 13.05% | 115,113 |
| Floral Artist | 14.26% | 3,971 |
| Window Dresser | 16.91% | 54,662 |
| Fashion Designer | 17.98% | - |
| Interior Designer/Project Manager | 22.51% | 85,288 |
Similar fashion designer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Artist | 11.32% | 7,209 |
| Show Design Supervisor | 12.35% | 37,552 |
| Graphic Designer, Marketing | 13.05% | 115,113 |
| Floral Artist | 14.26% | 3,971 |
| Window Dresser | 16.91% | 54,662 |
| Interior Designer/Project Manager | 22.51% | 85,288 |
Foreign languages spoken by fashion designers
The most common foreign language among fashion designers is Spanish at 39.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.5% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 7.6%.
- Spanish, 39.0%
- French, 10.5%
- Portuguese, 7.6%
- Mandarin, 7.0%
- Chinese, 5.8%
- Other, 30.1%
Fashion Designer languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 39.0% |
| French | 10.5% |
| Portuguese | 7.6% |
| Mandarin | 7.0% |
| Chinese | 5.8% |
| Other | 30.1% |
