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% STYLING 14.13% 6.97% PUBLICITY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN RETAIL /SALES/ E-COMMERCE 14.40% 2.78% MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING 11.20% OTHER 12.08% 10.17% 1.22% EDITORIAL 3 DESIGN ADVERTISING
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS RESPONDENT EXPERIENCE: ALL 0-2 3-6 Y E A R S 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 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 Male Non-Binary Other 5
SALARY: ALL RESPONDENTS $66,840 MEAN SALARY 8 individual respondents reported earning 14.3% of all respondents reported earning ANNUALLY ANNUALLY $500,000+ 6 >$25,000
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 $82,450 NOTE: <10% OF RESPONDENTS MALE NYC vs. LA $69,990 NYC $65,110 VS. FEMALE $103,680 NOTE: <1% OF RESPONDENTS NON-BINARY 7 $68,160 LA
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 11.0% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 3.3% STYLING 6.9% DESIGN 15.0% MARKETING/SOCIAL 12.6% RETAIL/SALES 15.5% PUBLICITY 22.8% ADVERTISING 2.0% GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO 2.4% EDITORIAL 8.5% 8
DISTRIBUTION OF $200K+ SALARIES BY ROLE OTHER 13.1% PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 3.3% DESIGN 24.6% STYLING 14.7% MARKETING/SOCIAL 8.2% RETAIL/SALES 8.2% ADVERTISING 3.3% GRAPHIC DESIGN/PHOTO 4.9% PUBLICITY 8.2% EDITORIAL 1.5% 9
DESIGN RESPONDENT JOB TITLES 62% DESIGNER Assistant Designer 5.36% Associate Designer 2.31% Designer 62.31% Senior Designer 4.23% Design Director 1.15% Creative Director 1.54% Assistant Technical Designer 0.38% Associate Technical Designer 0.77% Technical Designer 6.15% Other 15.77% 10
DESIGN: 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 $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 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 12 30% 40% 50%
MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA: JOB TITLES 21% MARKETING MANAGER 22% OTHER Assistant Marketing Manager 5.54% Associate Marketing Manager 1.11% Marketing Manager 21.05% Senior Marketing Manager 0.28% Marketing Director 10.25% Social Media Manager - Entry Level 26.04% Social Media Manager - Mid Level 12.74% Social Media Manager - Sr. Level 1.39% Other 21.61% <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K SALARY ALL MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONDENTS $74,170 PUBLIC COMPANY $61,980 PRIVATE COMPANY 0 25 50 75 100 $2,000,000 $1,500,000 $100,000 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT MARKETING/ SOCIAL MEDIA ROLES $65,650 MARKETING MANAGER $50,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 Y E A R S $62,600 SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER 13
PUBLICITY YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 3-6 Y E A R S 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 14
PUBLICITY: JOB TITLES 60% PUBLICIST 29% OTHER Assistant Publicist 6.11% Associate Publicist 0.83% Publicist 59.72% Senior Publicist 0.56% Publicity Director 0.56% VP Publicity 3.33% Other 28.89% ALL RESPONDENTS ALL PUBLICITY RESPONDENTS <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K $84,410 PUBLIC COMPANY $68,370 PRIVATE COMPANY 0 25 50 75 100 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT PUBLICITY ROLES $300,000 $200,000 $100,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ Y E A R S $65,710 ASSISTANT PUBLICIST $142,670 VP 15
EDITORIAL PRINT YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 16 30% 40% 50%
EDITORIAL PRINT: JOB TITLES 39% OTHER Associate Market Editor 6.78% Senior Market Editor 3.39% Senior Editor 3.39% Director-Level Editor 5.08% Editor in Chief 3.39% Writer 11.86% Editor at Large 10.17% Copy Editor 1.69% Researcher 1.69% Assistant Editor 10.17% Assistant Market Editor 1.69% Associate Editor 1.69% Other 38.98% <25K SALARY: ALL RESPONDENTS ALL EDITORIAL PRINT RESPONDENTS 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K $77,870 PUBLIC COMPANY 101-250K >250K 0 25 50 75 100 125 $71,270 PRIVATE COMPANY $300,000 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT EDITORAL PRINT ROLES $200,000 $100,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ Y E A R S $35,800 ASSISTANT EDITOR $264,000 EDITOR IN CHIEF 17
DIGITAL EDITORIAL YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE AR S 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 18 30% 40% 50%
DIGITAL EDITORIAL: JOB TITLES 12% WRITER 39% OTHER Associate Editor 1.69% Associate Market Editor 6.78% Senior Market Editor 3.39% Senior Editor 3.39% Director-Level Editor 5.08% Editor in Chief 3.39% Assistant Editor 10.17% Assistant Market Editor 1.69% Writer 11.86% Editor at Large 10.17% Copy Editor 1.69% Researcher 1.69% Other 38.98% <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K ALL RESPONDENTS 0 20 40 60 ALL EDITORIAL DIGITAL RESPONDENTS $60,460 PUBLIC COMPANY $61,820 PRIVATE COMPANY BY EXPERIENCE SELECT EDITORIAL DIGITAL ROLES $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 19 $58,540 WRITER $58,390 SENIOR EDITOR
GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 20 30% 40% 50%
GRAPHIC DESIGN/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTO EDITING: JOB TITLES 34% GRAPHIC DESIGNER 27% PHOTO EDITOR 34% OTHER Assistant Graphic Designer 3.57% Graphic Designer 33.93% Senior Graphic Designer 1.79% Photo Editor 26.79% Other 33.93% <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K ALL RESPONDENTS 0 5 10 15 20 ALL GRAPHIC/PHOTO RESPONDENTS $93,430 PUBLIC COMPANY $59,130 PRIVATE COMPANY BY EXPERIENCE $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 21 SELECT GRAPHIC/PHOTO ROLES $43,690 GRAPHIC DESIGNER $77,230 PHOTO EDITOR
ADVERTISING YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 22 30% 40% 50%
ADVERTISING: JOB TITLES 86% OTHER Bookings Editor 9.52% Bookings Director 4.76% Other 85.71% <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K ALL RESPONDENTS ALL ADVERTISING RESPONDENTS $75,170 PUBLIC COMPANY $98,640 PRIVATE COMPANY 0 1 2 3 4 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT ADVERTISING ROLES $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 $168,500 BOOKING EDITOR $80,640 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE 23
STYLING JOB TITLES 39% STYLIST S ASSISTANT 54% STYLIST Stylist s Assistant 38.85% Stylist 53.96% Other 7.19% ALL RESPONDENTS <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K 0 10 20 30 40 50 ALL STYLING RESPONDENTS $70,150 PUBLIC COMPANY $58,590 PRIVATE COMPANY SELECT STYLING ROLES $49,760 ASSISTANT STYLIST $79,380 STYLIST 24
RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 25 30% 40% 50%
RETAIL/ SALES/ E-COMMERCE: JOB TITLES 27% MERCHANDISER 31% STORE MANAGER 18% BUYER Visual Merchandising 11.08% Assistant Buyer 6.53% Assistant Merchandiser 4.83% Associate Buyer 1.14% Merchandiser 27.27% Store Manager 30.97% Buyer 17.61% Fashion Director 0.57% ALL RESPONDENTS ALL RETAIL RESPONDENTS <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K $60,650 PUBLIC COMPANY $60,480 PRIVATE COMPANY 0 25 50 75 100 125 $100,000 $75,000 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT RETAIL ROLES $61,000 MERCHANDISER $50,000 $25,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ Y E A R S $46,680 ASSISTANT BUYER 26
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN YEARS EXPERIENCE 0-2 YE A RS 3-6 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ 10% 20% 27 30% 40% 50%
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT/ SUPPLY CHAIN: JOB TITLES 24% DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT 42% PRODUCT MANAGER Development Assistant 24.26% Development Associate 17.65% Fabric Analyst 3.68% Sourcing Manager 8.82% Pattern Maker 3.68% Product Manager 41.91% <25K 26-50K 51-75K 76-100K 101-250K >250K ALL RESPONDENTS ALL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESPONDENTS $73,730 PUBLIC COMPANY $52,940 PRIVATE COMPANY 0 25 50 75 100 125 $400,000 $300,000 BY EXPERIENCE SELECT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ROLES $36,930 DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT $200,000 $100,000 0 0-2 3-5 7-10 11-15 16-20 20+ Y E A R S $72,440 PRODUCT MANAGER 28
AVERAGE SALARY/JOB 0-2 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $45,000 $40,000 $35,000 EDITORIAL PRNT GRAPHIC DESIGN PUBLICITY RETAIL SALES PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MARKETING/SOCIAL EDITORIAL DIGITAL DESIGN ADVERTISING 16-20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE $225,000 $200,000 $175,000 $150,000 $125,000 $100,000 EDITORIAL DIGITAL ADVERTISING EDITORIAL PRINT PUBLICITY 29 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MARKETING/SOCIAL GRAPHIC DESIGN DESIGN RETAIL SALES
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 Jill @ fashionista.com for any inquiries.