SALARY SURVEY FINDINGS 2018 Whether you’re wondering what your dream fashion job typically pays, what other people in your same position make on average, or how those salaries really fluctuate with years of experience or gender, Fashionista’s annual salary report is an invaluable resource.
At the beginning of the year, we anonymously surveyed thousands of our readers from all corners of the fashion industry to find out what they make in jobs ranging from design to editorial to PR, at companies like Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Condé Nast, Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren, as well as smaller companies with under 25 employees.
So in the charts and graphs below, broken down by field, you’ll see average salaries for all of the fashion industry’s most common professions. You’ll see how those numbers correspond with years of experience, what an assistant designer makes vs. a creative director, and which fields have the highest portion of people who make six figures. You’ll see how working for a private company compares to working for a public one and how working in print compares to working in digital editorial. You’ll see that, unfortunately, fashion is not always very lucrative. Our goal is to provide compensation transparency so that our readers can make more informed career decisions.
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT ROLES
7.66 % 19.39% 14.13% 6.97% 11.20% STYLING RETAIL /SALES/ PUBLICITY PRODUCT OTHER E-COMMERCE DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN
14.40% 2.78% 12.08% 10.17% 1.22% MARKETING/ GRAPHIC DESIGN/ EDITORIAL DESIGN ADVERTISING SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING
3 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT EXPERIENCE: ALL
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
COMPANY SIZE: ALL
FORTUNE 250
FORTUNE 500
FORTUNE 1000
LARGE PRIVATE (1000+ EMPLOYEES)
MEDIUM PRIVATE (100 - 1,000 EMPLOYEES)
SMALL PRIVATE (25-100 EMPLOYEES)
VERY SMALL PRIVATE (<25 EMPLOYEES)
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
4 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT LOCATION: ALL
54.1% 13% 12.2% 3.3% 2% NYC OUTSIDE THE U.S. CALIFORNIA NEW JERSEY FLORIDA
RESPONDENT IDENTITY: ALL
11.15%
88.29%
Female Non-Binary
Male Other
5 SALARY: ALL RESPONDENTS
8 individual respondents 14.3% of all respondents reported earning reported earning $66,840 $500,000+ >$25,000 MEAN SALARY ANNUALLY ANNUALLY
6 MEAN SALARY:
BY COMPANY SIZE
FORTUNE 250
FORTUNE 500
FORTUNE 1000
LARGE PRIVATE (1000+ EMPLOYEES)
MEDIUM PRIVATE (100 - 1,000 EMPLOYEES)
SMALL PRIVATE (25-100 EMPLOYEES)
VERY SMALL PRIVATE (<25 EMPLOYEES)
55,000 60,000 65,000 70,000 75,000
BY RESPONDENT IDENTITY NYC vs. LA $82,450 NOTE: <10% OF RESPONDENTS $69,990 MALE NYC $65,110 VS. FEMALE $68,160 $103,680 LA NOTE: <1% OF RESPONDENTS NON-BINARY 7 MEAN SALARY:
BY ROLE & COMPANY TYPE
ROLE PUBLIC COMPANY PRIVATE COMPANY Design $84,410 $76,060 Retail/E-commerce $60,650 $60,480 Marketing $74,170 $61,980 Publicity $86,300 $68,370 Editorial: Print $77,870 $71,270 Editorial: Digital $60,460 $61,820
DISTRIBUTION OF $100K+ SALARIES BY ROLE
OTHER DESIGN 11.0% 15.0% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 3.3%
STYLING 6.9% MARKETING/SOCIAL 12.6%
RETAIL/SALES 15.5% PUBLICITY 22.8%
ADVERTISING 2.0% GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO 2.4% EDITORIAL 8.5%
8 MEAN SALARY:
DISTRIBUTION OF $200K+ SALARIES BY ROLE
OTHER DESIGN 13.1% 24.6% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 3.3%
STYLING 14.7%
MARKETING/SOCIAL 8.2%
RETAIL/SALES 8.2% PUBLICITY 8.2% ADVERTISING 3.3% GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO EDITORIAL 4.9% 1.5%
9 DESIGN
RESPONDENT JOB TITLES
62% DESIGNER
Assistant Designer Senior Designer Assistant Technical Designer Other 5.36% 4.23% 0.38% 15.77% Associate Designer Design Director Associate Technical Designer 2.31% 1.15% 0.77% Designer Creative Director Technical Designer 62.31% 1.54% 6.15%
10 DESIGN: MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+
YEARS
ALL DESIGN RESPONDENTS SELECT DESIGN ROLES MEAN SALARY: MEAN SALARY: $84,410 $46,910 PUBLIC COMPANY ASSISTANT DESIGNER
$76,060 $83,500 PRIVATE COMPANY DESIGNER 54% $130,000 BETWEEN $51-75K CREATIVE DIRECTOR
11 MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
12 MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA:
JOB TITLES 21% 22% MARKETING MANAGER OTHER
Assistant Marketing Senior Marketing Social Media Manager - Manager 5.54% Manager 0.28% Mid Level 12.74% Associate Marketing Marketing Director Social Media Manager - Manager 1.11% 10.25% Sr. Level 1.39% Marketing Manager Social Media Manager - Other 21.05% Entry Level 26.04% 21.61%
SALARY ALL MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:
<25K
26-50K $74,170
51-75K PUBLIC COMPANY
76-100K
101-250K $61,980 PRIVATE COMPANY >250K
0 25 50 75 100
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA ROLES $2,000,000 MEAN SALARY:
$1,500,000 $65,650
$100,000 MARKETING MANAGER
$50,000 $62,600 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 SOCIAL MEDIA YEARS MANAGER
13 PUBLICITY
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
14 PUBLICITY: JOB TITLES 60% 29% PUBLICIST OTHER
Assistant Publicist Publicist Publicity Director Other 6.11% 59.72% 0.56% 28.89% Associate Publicist Senior Publicist VP Publicity 0.83% 0.56% 3.33%
ALL RESPONDENTS ALL PUBLICITY RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:
<25K
26-50K $84,410
51-75K PUBLIC COMPANY
76-100K
101-250K $68,370 PRIVATE COMPANY >250K
0 25 50 75 100
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT PUBLICITY ROLES MEAN SALARY:
$300,000
$200,000 $65,710 ASSISTANT PUBLICIST
$100,000
0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ $142,670 YEARS VP
15 EDITORIAL PRINT
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
16 EDITORIAL PRINT: JOB TITLES 39% OTHER
Associate Market Editor Editor in Chief Researcher Other 6.78% 3.39% 1.69% 38.98% Senior Market Editor Writer Assistant Editor 3.39% 11.86% 10.17% Senior Editor Editor at Large Assistant Market Editor 3.39% 10.17% 1.69% Director-Level Editor Copy Editor Associate Editor 5.08% 1.69% 1.69%
SALARY: ALL RESPONDENTS ALL EDITORIAL PRINT RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K
26-50K
51-75K $77,870 76-100K PUBLIC COMPANY
101-250K
>250K $71,270 0 25 50 75 100 125 PRIVATE COMPANY
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT EDITORAL PRINT ROLES $300,000 MEAN SALARY:
$200,000 $35,800 ASSISTANT EDITOR
$100,000 $264,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ EDITOR IN CHIEF YEARS
17 DIGITAL EDITORIAL
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
18 DIGITAL EDITORIAL: JOB TITLES 12% 39% WRITER OTHER
Associate Editor Director-Level Editor Assistant Market Editor Copy Editor 1.69% 5.08% 1.69% 1.69% Associate Market Editor Editor in Chief Writer Researcher 6.78% 3.39% 11.86% 1.69% Senior Market Editor Assistant Editor Editor at Large Other 3.39% 10.17% 10.17% 38.98% Senior Editor 3.39%
ALL RESPONDENTS ALL EDITORIAL DIGITAL RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K 26-50K $60,460 51-75K PUBLIC COMPANY
76-100K 101-250K $61,820 >250K PRIVATE COMPANY
0 20 40 60
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT EDITORIAL DIGITAL ROLES MEAN SALARY:
$125,000 $100,000 $58,540 $75,000 WRITER $50,000 $25,000 $58,390 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ SENIOR EDITOR YEARS 19 GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
20 GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING:
JOB TITLES 34% 27% 34% GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTO EDITOR OTHER
Assistant Graphic Designer Photo Editor 3.57% 26.79% Graphic Designer Other 33.93% 33.93% Senior Graphic Designer 1.79%
ALL RESPONDENTS ALL GRAPHIC/PHOTO RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K 26-50K $93,430 51-75K PUBLIC COMPANY
76-100K 101-250K $59,130 >250K PRIVATE COMPANY
0 5 10 15 20
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT GRAPHIC/PHOTO ROLES MEAN SALARY: $250,000 $200,000 $43,690 $150,000 GRAPHIC DESIGNER
$100,000 $50,000 $77,230 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ PHOTO EDITOR YEARS 21 ADVERTISING
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
22 ADVERTISING: JOB TITLES 86% OTHER
Bookings Editor Bookings Director Other 9.52% 4.76% 85.71%
ALL RESPONDENTS ALL ADVERTISING RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K 26-50K $75,170 51-75K PUBLIC COMPANY
76-100K 101-250K $98,640 >250K PRIVATE COMPANY
0 1 2 3 4
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT ADVERTISING ROLES MEAN SALARY:
$250,000 $200,000 $168,500 $150,000 BOOKING EDITOR
$100,000
$50,000 $80,640
0 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ YEARS
23 STYLING
JOB TITLES 39% 54% STYLIST’S ASSISTANT STYLIST
Stylist’s Assistant Stylist Other 38.85% 53.96% 7.19%
ALL RESPONDENTS
<25K
26-50K
51-75K
76-100K
101-250K
>250K
0 10 20 30 40 50
ALL STYLING RESPONDENTS SELECT STYLING ROLES MEAN SALARY: MEAN SALARY: $70,150 $49,760 PUBLIC COMPANY ASSISTANT STYLIST
$58,590 $79,380 PRIVATE COMPANY STYLIST
24 RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
25 RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE: JOB TITLES 27% 31% 18% MERCHANDISER STORE MANAGER BUYER
Visual Merchandising Associate Buyer Buyer 11.08% 1.14% 17.61% Assistant Buyer Merchandiser Fashion Director 6.53% 27.27% 0.57% Assistant Merchandiser Store Manager 4.83% 30.97%
ALL RESPONDENTS ALL RETAIL RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K $60,650 26-50K PUBLIC COMPANY 51-75K 76-100K $60,480 101-250K PRIVATE COMPANY >250K
0 25 50 75 100 125
MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE SELECT RETAIL ROLES MEAN SALARY: $100,000 $61,000 $75,000 MERCHANDISER
$50,000
$25,000 $46,680 ASSISTANT BUYER 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ YEARS
26 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN
YEARS EXPERIENCE
0-2
3-6
7-10
11-15 YEARS
16-20
20+
10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
27 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN:
JOB TITLES 24% 42% DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER
Development Assistant Sourcing Manager 24.26% 8.82% Development Associate Patern Maker 17.65% 3.68% Fabric Analyst Product Manager 3.68% 41.91%
ALL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ALL RESPONDENTS RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY: <25K $73,730 26-50K PUBLIC COMPANY 51-75K 76-100K $52,940 101-250K PRIVATE COMPANY >250K
0 25 50 75 100 125
SELECT PRODUCT MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT ROLES MEAN SALARY: $200,000 $36,930 $150,000 DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT
$100,000
$50,000 $72,440 PRODUCT MANAGER
0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 YEARS
28 AVERAGE SALARY/JOB
0-2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
$60,000
$55,000
$50,000
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
Y S AL
SIGN ALE
TISING SOCIAL DESIGN OPMENT
PUBLICIT ORIAL PRNT RETAIL S TING/ ADVER ORIAL DIGIT EDIT T DEVEL GRAPHIC DE
EDIT MARKE
PRODUC
16-20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE $22 5,000
$200,000
$175,000
$150,000
$12 5,000
$100,000
Y S AL
SIGN ALE
TISING SOCIAL DESIGN OPMENT
PUBLICIT
ORIAL PRINT ADVER TING/ RETAIL S ORIAL DIGIT T DEVEL EDIT GRAPHIC DE EDIT MARKE
PRODUC29 SUMMARY
In addition to showing what select fashion jobs pay on average, our results show a few overarching trends. The majority of our respondents had under 10 years of experience and made in the mid-five figures, but those numbers began to increase significantly with more experienced respondents. Company size also had an impact, with employees at public companies making more than those at private ones in most cases.
And broadly, certain fields were shown to be more lucrative than others: For instance, design, retail and PR had the largest percentages of over-$100K salaries while design and styling had the most over-$200K salaries. In editorial, while an entry-level assistant editor made an average of $35,800, the mean salary for an editor in chief was $264K.
If you’re just starting out, it’s worth noting that you’ll likely need to pinch pennies (or even supplement your income in some cases) in the beginning of your career, but could later end up in a decent financial position. And if you’ve already made some headway on your career path, we hope these numbers give you a better idea of where you’re headed.
Interested in working with us on a future report? Contact [email protected] for any inquiries.