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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The top-paying city for this role might not be where you expect. The national median salary for Fashion Designers in 2026 is $89,619, with entry-level positions averaging $64,526 and senior roles reaching $127,260. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $163,240, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Fashion Designer falls within the Creative & Media sector, specifically in Arts & Media. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in fashion. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is studio/hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$99,330 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Fashion Designer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $163,240 — $99,330 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($63,910). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Fashion Designers in 2026: $64,526 at entry (P10), $89,619 at midpoint, and $127,260 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $62,734 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $9,252 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $152,460 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $64,423 (average of the bottom 3). That $88,037 delta is real money — $7,336/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Fashion Designer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $163,240 — $99,330 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($63,910). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Fashion Designer is $64,526, while senior-level (P90) earners average $127,260. That $62,734 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Fashion Designers pull in an average of $127,260. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Fashion Designers average $64,526 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $64,526 | $89,619 | $127,260 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £33,532 | £46,572 | £66,132 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$48,382 | CA$67,198 | CA$95,421 |
| Australia | 13 | A$53,709 | A$74,596 | A$105,926 |
| Sweden | 24 | 342,551 kr | 475,765 kr | 675,586 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $77,880 | $108,166 | $153,596 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $75,260 | $104,528 | $148,429 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $74,844 | $103,950 | $147,609 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $69,300 | $96,250 | $136,675 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $68,468 | $95,095 | $135,035 |
| Washington | 8 | $67,152 | $93,266 | $132,438 |
| New York | 5 | $63,201 | $87,780 | $124,647 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $63,202 | $87,780 | $124,648 |
| Florida | 22 | $62,723 | $87,115 | $123,703 |
| Colorado | 11 | $61,639 | $85,610 | $121,566 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $61,538 | $85,470 | $121,367 |
| Nevada | 5 | $61,427 | $85,316 | $121,149 |
| Arizona | 12 | $61,123 | $84,893 | $120,547 |
| Oregon | 5 | $60,984 | $84,700 | $120,274 |
| Idaho | 3 | $60,799 | $84,443 | $119,910 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $60,319 | $83,776 | $118,962 |
| Utah | 4 | $60,152 | $83,545 | $118,634 |
| Virginia | 7 | $59,162 | $82,170 | $116,681 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $58,397 | $81,107 | $115,171 |
| Alaska | 1 | $58,212 | $80,850 | $114,807 |
| Illinois | 5 | $57,547 | $79,926 | $113,495 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $56,118 | $77,941 | $110,676 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $55,440 | $77,000 | $109,340 |
| Montana | 1 | $55,440 | $77,000 | $109,340 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $55,255 | $76,743 | $108,975 |
| Texas | 40 | $54,983 | $76,365 | $108,438 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $54,886 | $76,230 | $108,247 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $54,609 | $75,845 | $107,700 |
| Georgia | 6 | $54,424 | $75,588 | $107,336 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $54,331 | $75,460 | $107,153 |
| Kansas | 4 | $54,054 | $75,075 | $106,607 |
| Michigan | 6 | $53,869 | $74,818 | $106,242 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $53,223 | $73,920 | $104,967 |
| Maryland | 1 | $53,222 | $73,920 | $104,966 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $52,668 | $73,150 | $103,873 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $52,668 | $73,150 | $103,873 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $51,282 | $71,225 | $101,140 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $51,005 | $70,840 | $100,593 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $50,312 | $69,878 | $99,226 |
| Missouri | 4 | $50,312 | $69,878 | $99,226 |
| Alabama | 5 | $50,118 | $69,608 | $98,844 |
| Indiana | 3 | $49,342 | $68,530 | $97,313 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $49,342 | $68,530 | $97,313 |
| Iowa | 2 | $48,787 | $67,760 | $96,219 |
| Ohio | 6 | $48,695 | $67,632 | $96,037 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $46,570 | $64,680 | $91,846 |
Geography shapes Fashion Designer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $108,166 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($163,240 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $77,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $163,240 | 212 | $77,000 | $96,821 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $152,460 | 198 | $77,000 | $90,887 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $141,680 | 184 | $77,000 | $84,952 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $139,370 | 181 | $77,000 | $83,681 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $137,060 | 178 | $77,000 | $82,409 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $136,290 | 177 | $77,000 | $81,985 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $136,290 | 177 | $77,000 | $81,985 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $133,210 | 173 | $77,000 | $80,290 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $133,210 | 173 | $77,000 | $80,290 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $130,130 | 169 | $77,000 | $78,594 |
From a career planning perspective, Fashion Designer offers a $62,734 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in fashion. Day-to-day, expect studio/hybrid work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Fashion Designers is $89,619 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $64,526, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $127,260.
The highest-paying city for Fashion Designers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $163,240. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($163,240), Santa Clara ($152,460), Irvine ($141,680). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Fashion Designer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $63,910. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Fashion Designers (10th percentile) average $64,526 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $117,533. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Fashion Designers average $127,260 nationally — $62,734 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Fashion Designers can earn up to $231,801.
The top-paying states for Fashion Designers are California ($108,166 median), Massachusetts ($104,528 median), Hawaii ($103,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Fashion Designer involves Bachelor's in fashion. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically studio/hybrid.
With a national median of $89,619 and representation across 288 metro areas, Fashion Designer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $62,734 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.