Fashion Designers Salary
Fashion Designers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $62,400 a year, or about $30 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $145K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $57,311 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 55.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About fashion designers
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for fashion designers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $81K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 54.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for fashion designerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level fashion designers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $145K or more, a $102K spread from bottom to top.
Fashion Designers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fashion Designers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $104K | +28% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $102K | +26% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $100K | +24% | 40 |
| New York | $99K | +22% | 5,760 |
| Colorado | $94K | +16% | 360 |
| Virginia | $94K | +16% | 100 |
| Ohio | $82K | +1% | 90 |
| Washington | $82K | +1% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $82K | +1% | 50 |
| Vermont | $80K | -2% | 60 |
| Georgia | $78K | -3% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $75K | -7% | 460 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -21% | 320 |
| Michigan | $63K | -22% | 40 |
| Kansas | $59K | -27% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -30% | 120 |
| Maine | $50K | -39% | 30 |
| Hawaii | $48K | -41% | N/A |
| Arizona | $46K | -44% | N/A |
| Florida | $43K | -47% | 1,100 |
| Minnesota | $42K | -48% | 420 |
| Indiana | $41K | -50% | 120 |
| Texas | $40K | -51% | 1,850 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fashion designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fashion designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 54.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fashion designers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fashion designers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,617/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 86% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $62K here vs. $81K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for fashion designers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do fashion designers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $62,400 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,620, and experienced fashion designers can clear $145,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,122/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 54.5% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fashion designers salary is worth about $57,311 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.