salary survey findings 2018 · whether you’re wondering what your dream fashion job typically...

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% STYLING RETAIL /SALES/ PUBLICITY

E-COMMERCE

6.97% 11.20% PRODUCT OTHER

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 EXPERIENCE: ALL

YE

AR

S

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

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 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 reported earning

$66,840 $500,000+ MEAN SALARY ANNUALLY

14.3% of all respondents reported earning

>$25,000 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

MALE

$65,110 FEMALE

$103,680 NOTE: <1% OF RESPONDENTS

NON-BINARY

$69,990 NYC

VS.

$68,160 LA

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

11.0% OTHER

15.0% DESIGN

12.6% MARKETING/SOCIAL

3.3% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

6.9% STYLING

15.5% RETAIL/SALES

2.0% ADVERTISING

2.4% GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO

EDITORIAL

22.8% PUBLICITY

8.5%

8

MEAN SALARY:

DISTRIBUTION OF $200K+ SALARIES BY ROLE

13.1% OTHER

24.6% DESIGN

8.2% MARKETING/SOCIAL

3.3% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

14.7% STYLING

8.2% RETAIL/SALES

3.3% ADVERTISING

GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO

8.2% PUBLICITY

EDITORIAL

1.5% 4.9%

9

DESIGN

RESPONDENT JOB TITLES

62% DESIGNER

Assistant Designer 5.36%

Senior Designer 4.23%

Assistant Technical Designer 0.38%

Other 15.77%

Associate Designer Design Director Associate Technical Designer 2.31% 1.15% 0.77% Designer 62.31%

Creative Director 1.54%

Technical Designer 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+

Y E A R S

ALL DESIGN RESPONDENTS SELECT DESIGN ROLES MEAN SALARY: MEAN SALARY:

$84,410 PUBLIC COMPANY

$76,060 PRIVATE COMPANY

54% BETWEEN $51-75K

$46,910 ASSISTANT DESIGNER

$83,500 DESIGNER

$130,000 CREATIVE DIRECTOR

11

MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

12

JOB TITLES

22% OTHER

MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA:

21% MARKETING MANAGER

Senior Marketing Manager 0.28% Marketing Director 10.25% Social Media Manager - Entry Level 26.04%

SALARY

Assistant Marketing Manager 5.54% Associate Marketing Manager 1.11% Marketing Manager 21.05%

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 25 50 75

MEAN SALARY: BY EXPERIENCE

$2,000,000

$1,500,000

$100,000

$50,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20

Y E A R S

Social Media Manager - Mid Level 12.74% Social Media Manager - Sr. Level 1.39% Other 21.61%

ALL MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONDENTS

MEAN SALARY:



100

SELECT MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA ROLES

MEAN SALARY:

$65,650 MARKETING MANAGER

$62,600 SOCIAL MEDIA

MANAGER

13

PUBLICITY

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

14

PUBLICITY: JOB TITLES

60% PUBLICIST

29% OTHER

Publicist Publicity Director Assistant Publicist Other 59.72% 0.56% 6.11%

Associate Publicist Senior Publicist VP Publicity 0.83% 0.56% 3.33%

ALL RESPONDENTS

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 25 50 75 100


$300,000

$200,000

$100,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

28.89%

ALL PUBLICITY RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT PUBLICITY ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$65,710 ASSISTANT PUBLICIST

$142,670 VP

15

EDITORIAL PRINT

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

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

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 25 50 75 100 125


$300,000

$200,000

$100,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

ALL EDITORIAL PRINT RESPONDENTS

MEAN SALARY:



SELECT EDITORAL PRINT ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$35,800 ASSISTANT EDITOR

$264,000 EDITOR IN CHIEF

17

DIGITAL EDITORIAL

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

18

DIGITAL EDITORIAL: JOB TITLES

12% WRITER

39% OTHER

Associate Editor 1.69%

Director-Level Editor 5.08%

Assistant Market Editor 1.69%

Copy Editor 1.69%

Associate Market Editor 6.78%

Editor in Chief 3.39%

Writer 11.86%

Researcher 1.69%

Senior Market Editor 3.39%

Assistant Editor 10.17%

Editor at Large 10.17%

Other 38.98%

Senior Editor 3.39%

ALL RESPONDENTS

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 20 40 60


$125,000

$100,000

$75,000

$50,000

$25,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

ALL EDITORIAL DIGITAL RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT EDITORIAL DIGITAL ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$58,540 WRITER

$58,390 SENIOR EDITOR

19

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

20

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING:

JOB TITLES

34% 27% GRAPHIC DESIGNER PHOTO EDITOR

Assistant Graphic Designer 3.57% Graphic Designer 33.93%

Senior Graphic Designer 1.79%

34% OTHER

Photo Editor 26.79%

Other 33.93%

ALL RESPONDENTS

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 5 10 15 20


$250,000

$200,000

$150,000

$100,000

$50,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

ALL GRAPHIC/PHOTO RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT GRAPHIC/PHOTO ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$43,690 GRAPHIC DESIGNER

$77,230 PHOTO EDITOR

21

ADVERTISING

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

22

ADVERTISING: JOB TITLES

86% OTHER

Bookings Editor Bookings Director Other 9.52% 4.76% 85.71%

ALL RESPONDENTS

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 1 2 3 4


$250,000

$200,000

$150,000

$100,000

$50,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

ALL ADVERTISING RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT ADVERTISING ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$168,500 BOOKING EDITOR

$80,640 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

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 MEAN SALARY:



SELECT STYLING ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$49,760 ASSISTANT STYLIST

$79,380 STYLIST

24

RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

25

RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE: JOB TITLES

31% STORE MANAGER

18% BUYER

27% MERCHANDISER

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

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 25 50 75 100 125


$100,000

$75,000

$50,000

$25,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Y E A R S

ALL RETAIL RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT RETAIL ROLES MEAN SALARY:

$61,000 MERCHANDISER

$46,680 ASSISTANT BUYER

26

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN

YEARS EXPERIENCE

0-2

3-6

7-10

11-15

16-20

20+

YE

AR

S

10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

27

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN:

JOB TITLES

42% PRODUCT MANAGER

24% DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

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 RESPONDENTS

<25K

26-50K

51-75K

76-100K

101-250K

>250K

0 25 50 75 100 125


$200,000

$150,000

$100,000

$50,000

0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20

Y E A R S

ALL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESPONDENTS MEAN SALARY:



SELECT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ROLES

MEAN SALARY:

$36,930 DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

$72,440 PRODUCT MANAGER

28

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SIGN Y S

OPM

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SOCIA

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DES

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TISIN

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PUBLI

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L D

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RETAIL

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GRAPH

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ADVER

TIN

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EDIT

MARKE

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PROD

UC

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TISIN

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L PRIN

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OPM

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SOCIA

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SIGN

DES

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RETAIL

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GRAPH

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ADVER

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AVERAGE SALARY/JOB

0-2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

$60,000

$5 5,000

$50,000

$4 5,000

$4 0,000

$3 5,000

16-20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE $2 2 5,000

$2 00,000

$17 5,000

$150,000

$1 2 5,000

$100,000

29

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.

mailto:[email protected]

salary survey findings 2018 · whether you’re wondering what your dream fashion job typically...

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