Fashion Designers Salary
Fashion Designers in Wisconsin make a median of $57,030 a year, or about $27.42 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $60,458 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Wisconsin?
About fashion designers
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for fashion designers in Wisconsin runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level fashion designers (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Fashion Designers salary by metro in Wisconsin
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $57K | +0% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track fashion designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fashion designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 31.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fashion designers in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fashion designers typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,277/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $57K here vs. $81K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for fashion designers?
Wisconsin pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do fashion designers make in Wisconsin?
The median is $57,030 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,950, and experienced fashion designers can clear $75,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,824/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 31.4% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $60,458 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.