Fashion Designers Salary
Fashion Designers in Pennsylvania make a median of $63,840 a year, or about $30.69 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $67,221 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 31.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Pennsylvania?
About fashion designers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for fashion designers in Pennsylvania runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level fashion designers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Fashion Designers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $79K | +24% | 170 |
| Pittsburgh | $54K | -15% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track fashion designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a fashion designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fashion designers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fashion designers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,911/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fashion designer a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $64K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for fashion designers?
Pennsylvania pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do fashion designers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $63,840 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,520, and experienced fashion designers can clear $133,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,278/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 31.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a fashion designers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fashion designers salary is worth about $67,221 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fashion designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.