The fashion design industry does not employ large numbers of people. Fashion designers hold between eighteen and twenty thousand jobs in this country currently. About 25 percent of fashion designers worked for apparel and piece goods merchant wholesalers. Another 15 percent worked in the factory sector: what is known as “cut and sew” apparel manufacturing.
The remainder were in corporate positions or with clothing stores, performing arts companies, specialized design services firms, textile firms, and footwear and accessories manufacturers. These are individuals who found niches in related industries; and, as mentioned above, over a quarter of the people in the industry are self employed.
Median annual earnings for fashion designers were $55,840 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,800 and $77,580. The top ten percent in the industry are over $100,000, but starting salaries in the business tend to be very low. There is an apprenticeship role to the entry level position, and competition keeps those salaries at reduced figures – even though the industry is centered in New York and California.
