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Fashion · Report

Fashion Designer Statistics

Fashion designers earned about $79,290 median; jobs grow 5%, openings rise.

From job numbers to global market momentum, fashion designers in the U.S. brought in a median annual wage of $79,290 in May 2024, with about 22,800 jobs in 2023, projected 5 percent growth from 2023 to 2033, and thousands of openings each year, all while the industry races toward bigger demand, higher pay, and more urgent sustainability.

Florian FelsingWritten byFlorian FelsingCTO, Rawshot.ai
UpdatedApril 19, 2026Read11 minSources59 verified

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Research reviewed

Fashion designers earned about $79,290 median; jobs grow 5%, openings rise.

  • Fashion designers held about 22,800 jobs in the United States in 2023

  • The median annual wage for fashion designers was $79,290 in May 2024

  • Employment of fashion designers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033

  • Parsons School of Design tuition and fees were $57,476 for 2024–2025

  • FIT in-state tuition for full-time New York City and State residents was $2,645 per semester in 2024–2025

  • FIT out-of-state tuition was $7,935 per semester in 2024–2025

  • The global apparel market revenue was projected to reach $1.79 trillion in 2024

  • The global apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.81% from 2024 to 2029

  • The average revenue per capita in the global apparel market was projected at $229.20 in 2024

  • The global women’s apparel market size was valued at $930.4 billion in 2023

  • The global women’s apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2030

  • The global men’s apparel market size was valued at $573.26 billion in 2023

  • The fashion industry is responsible for about 2% to 8% of global carbon emissions

  • Fashion accounts for around 9% of annual microplastic losses to the oceans

  • The fashion industry uses about 215 trillion liters of water per year

Section 01

Education

  1. Parsons School of Design tuition and fees were $57,476 for 2024–2025 [1]

  2. FIT in-state tuition for full-time New York City and State residents was $2,645 per semester in 2024–2025 [2]

  3. FIT out-of-state tuition was $7,935 per semester in 2024–2025 [2]

  4. The annual tuition at Central Saint Martins for BA Fashion was £29,990 for international students in 2025/26 [3]

  5. Bunka Fashion College’s admission fee is ¥350,000 [4]

  6. Bunka Fashion College’s first-year tuition is ¥970,000 [4]

  7. Bunka Fashion College’s first-year facilities and equipment fee is ¥290,000 [4]

  8. London College of Fashion BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development annual tuition is £29,990 for international students in 2025/26 [5]

  9. London College of Fashion BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories annual tuition is £29,990 for international students in 2025/26 [6]

  10. Marangoni Miami undergraduate tuition is $54,500 per academic year [7]

  11. Savannah College of Art and Design undergraduate tuition was $41,130 for 2024–25 [8]

  12. Pratt Institute full-time undergraduate tuition was $59,280 for 2024–2025 [9]

  13. Kent State University School of Fashion has approximately 1,300 students [10]

  14. The Academy of Art University undergraduate tuition rate was $1,129 per unit in 2024–2025 [11]

  15. Drexel University undergraduate tuition was $61,497 for 2024–2025 [12]

  16. Lasalle College Vancouver’s Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design annual tuition was CAD 30,735 for domestic students [13]

  17. Lasalle College Vancouver’s Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design annual tuition was CAD 35,704 for international students [13]

  18. Ryerson School of Fashion’s MA Fashion annual domestic tuition was CAD 8,210 in 2024–2025 [14]

  19. Polimoda undergraduate tuition was €19,000 per year [15]

  20. Istituto Secoli bachelor’s annual tuition is €17,400 [16]

  21. Fashion Institute of Technology’s acceptance rate was 58% for fall 2023 [17]

  22. Parsons School of Design at The New School had an acceptance rate of 57% [18]

  23. Savannah College of Art and Design had an acceptance rate of 84% [19]

  24. Pratt Institute had an acceptance rate of 53% [20]

  25. Drexel University had an acceptance rate of 78% [21]

  26. Kent State University had an acceptance rate of 87% [22]

Section 02

Employment

  1. Fashion designers held about 22,800 jobs in the United States in 2023 [23]

  2. The median annual wage for fashion designers was $79,290 in May 2024 [23]

  3. Employment of fashion designers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033 [23]

  4. About 2,100 openings for fashion designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade [23]

  5. Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers employed 13% of fashion designers in 2023 [23]

  6. Apparel manufacturing employed 11% of fashion designers in 2023 [23]

  7. Management of companies and enterprises employed 8% of fashion designers in 2023 [23]

  8. Self-employed workers accounted for 19% of fashion designers in 2023 [23]

  9. California employed 4,220 fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  10. New York employed 3,430 fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  11. Texas employed 870 fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  12. Florida employed 780 fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  13. New Jersey employed 740 fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  14. California had a location quotient of 3.99 for fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  15. New York had a location quotient of 3.48 for fashion designers in May 2024 [24]

  16. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in the United States was $93,440 in May 2024 [24]

  17. The hourly mean wage for fashion designers in the United States was $44.93 in May 2024 [24]

  18. The employment estimate for fashion designers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area was 3,260 in May 2024 [24]

  19. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in California was $104,780 in May 2024 [24]

  20. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in New York was $98,190 in May 2024 [24]

  21. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in Massachusetts was $100,250 in May 2024 [24]

  22. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in New Hampshire was $109,610 in May 2024 [24]

  23. The annual mean wage for fashion designers in Oregon was $108,020 in May 2024 [24]

Section 03

Industry

  1. The global apparel market revenue was projected to reach $1.79 trillion in 2024 [25]

  2. The global apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.81% from 2024 to 2029 [25]

  3. The average revenue per capita in the global apparel market was projected at $229.20 in 2024 [25]

  4. The United States apparel market revenue was projected to reach $358.70 billion in 2024 [26]

  5. The U.S. apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.99% from 2024 to 2029 [26]

  6. China’s apparel market revenue was projected to reach $313.80 billion in 2024 [27]

  7. India’s apparel market revenue was projected to reach $105.50 billion in 2024 [28]

  8. The global luxury fashion market size was valued at $109.44 billion in 2023 [29]

  9. The global luxury fashion market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2030 [29]

  10. The global fast fashion market size was valued at $150.82 billion in 2023 [30]

  11. The global fast fashion market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.7% from 2024 to 2030 [30]

  12. The global online clothing rental market size was valued at $1.12 billion in 2023 [31]

  13. The online clothing rental market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2030 [31]

  14. The global bridal wear market size was estimated at $67.46 billion in 2023 [32]

  15. The bridal wear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2024 to 2030 [32]

  16. The global sustainable fashion market size was valued at $7.80 billion in 2023 [33]

  17. The sustainable fashion market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.1% from 2024 to 2030 [33]

  18. The global textile market size was estimated at $1.84 trillion in 2023 [34]

  19. The textile market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2024 to 2030 [34]

  20. The global footwear market revenue was projected to reach $457.30 billion in 2024 [35]

  21. The global footwear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.54% from 2024 to 2029 [35]

  22. The global accessories market revenue was projected to reach $274.80 billion in 2024 [36]

  23. The global accessories market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.13% from 2024 to 2029 [36]

  24. The resale apparel market was valued at $20 billion in 2023 [37]

  25. The U.S. secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $73 billion by 2028 [37]

  26. The global secondhand apparel market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2028 [37]

  27. The secondhand market is projected to grow 3 times faster than the global apparel market overall by 2028 [37]

  28. Online resale is expected to nearly double by 2028 [37]

  29. In 2023, 52% of consumers shopped secondhand apparel [37]

Section 04

Market Segments

  1. The global women’s apparel market size was valued at $930.4 billion in 2023 [38]

  2. The global women’s apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2030 [38]

  3. The global men’s apparel market size was valued at $573.26 billion in 2023 [39]

  4. The global men’s apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2030 [39]

  5. The global kids apparel market size was estimated at $279.40 billion in 2023 [40]

  6. The global kids apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2024 to 2030 [40]

  7. The global sports apparel market size was estimated at $206.64 billion in 2023 [41]

  8. The global sports apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2024 to 2030 [41]

  9. The global denim jeans market size was estimated at $95.80 billion in 2023 [42]

  10. The global denim jeans market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2024 to 2030 [42]

  11. The global lingerie market size was estimated at $88.32 billion in 2023 [43]

  12. The global lingerie market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2024 to 2030 [43]

  13. The global plus size clothing market size was estimated at $311.44 billion in 2023 [44]

  14. The global plus size clothing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2030 [44]

  15. The global maternity wear market size was estimated at $19.78 billion in 2023 [45]

  16. The global maternity wear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2024 to 2030 [45]

  17. The global nightwear market size was estimated at $13.31 billion in 2023 [46]

  18. The global nightwear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% from 2024 to 2030 [46]

  19. The global beachwear market size was estimated at $20.62 billion in 2023 [47]

  20. The global beachwear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.0% from 2024 to 2030 [47]

  21. The global shapewear market size was estimated at $2.73 billion in 2023 [48]

  22. The global shapewear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2024 to 2030 [48]

  23. The global adaptive clothing market size was valued at $18.90 billion in 2023 [49]

  24. The adaptive clothing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2024 to 2030 [49]

  25. The global luxury handbag market size was estimated at $28.07 billion in 2023 [50]

  26. The global luxury handbag market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2024 to 2030 [50]

  27. The global wedding wear market size was estimated at $61.22 billion in 2023 [51]

  28. The global wedding wear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2024 to 2030 [51]

Section 05

Sustainability

  1. The fashion industry is responsible for about 2% to 8% of global carbon emissions [52]

  2. Fashion accounts for around 9% of annual microplastic losses to the oceans [52]

  3. The fashion industry uses about 215 trillion liters of water per year [52]

  4. The equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned every second [53]

  5. Less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing [53]

  6. The global textiles industry emits 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually [53]

  7. Washing clothes releases around half a million tonnes of microfibres into the ocean each year [53]

  8. A truckload of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill every second [54]

  9. Fashion produces 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions [54]

  10. Fashion is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply [54]

  11. Fashion pollutes the oceans with about 0.5 million tons of microfibers a year [54]

  12. About 60% of material made into clothing is plastic [54]

  13. Of the total fiber input used for clothing, 87% is incinerated or landfilled [53]

  14. The average consumer bought 60% more clothing in 2014 than in 2000 [54]

  15. Garments are used for half as long today as they were 15 years ago [53]

  16. In 2018, 17 million tons of textile municipal solid waste were generated in the United States [55]

  17. Textiles generation in the United States in 2018 was 5.8% of total municipal solid waste generation [55]

  18. In 2018, the recycling rate for textiles in the United States was 14.7% [55]

  19. In 2018, 11.3 million tons of textiles in the United States were landfilled [55]

  20. In 2018, 2.5 million tons of textiles in the United States were combusted with energy recovery [55]

  21. Producing one cotton shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water [56]

  22. Producing one kilogram of cotton can require up to 20,000 liters of water [57]

  23. About 90% of cotton is grown in countries under water stress [57]

  24. Synthetic textiles account for 35% of primary microplastics released into the environment [58]

  25. Textile production is responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products [58]

  26. Clothing consumption in the EU is estimated to have the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change from a global life cycle perspective [58]

  27. Textiles consumption in the EU in 2020 required 9 cubic metres of water per person [59]

  28. Textiles consumption in the EU in 2020 required 400 square metres of land per person [59]

  29. Textiles consumption in the EU in 2020 used 391 kilograms of raw materials per person [59]

  30. Textiles consumption in the EU in 2020 generated a carbon footprint of 270 kilograms per person [59]

  31. In 2020, EU citizens bought 6 kilograms of clothing, 6.1 kilograms of textiles, and 6.0 kilograms of footwear per person [59]

References

Footnotes

  1. 1
    newschool.edu
    newschool.edu
  2. 2
    fitnyc.edu
    fitnyc.edu
  3. 3
    arts.ac.uk
    arts.ac.uk×3
  4. 4
    bunka-fc.ac.jp
    bunka-fc.ac.jp
  5. 7
    istitutomarangoni.com
    istitutomarangoni.com
  6. 8
    scad.edu
    scad.edu
  7. 9
    pratt.edu
    pratt.edu
  8. 10
    kent.edu
    kent.edu
  9. 11
    academyart.edu
    academyart.edu
  10. 12
    drexel.edu
    drexel.edu
  11. 13
    lasallecollegevancouver.com
    lasallecollegevancouver.com
  12. 14
    torontomu.ca
    torontomu.ca
  13. 15
    polimoda.com
    polimoda.com
  14. 16
    secoli.com
    secoli.com
  15. 17
    usnews.com
    usnews.com×6
  16. 23
    bls.gov
    bls.gov×2
  17. 25
    statista.com
    statista.com×6
  18. 29
    grandviewresearch.com
    grandviewresearch.com×20
  19. 37
    thredup.com
    thredup.com
  20. 52
    unep.org
    unep.org
  21. 53
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
    ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
  22. 54
    weforum.org
    weforum.org
  23. 55
    epa.gov
    epa.gov
  24. 56
    worldwildlife.org
    worldwildlife.org×2
  25. 58
    europarl.europa.eu
    europarl.europa.eu×2

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