Curious what your ideal fashion job pays? Or perhaps what your current fashion job should pay? The results from Fashionista’s annual Inside the Fashion Workplace survey are here to shed some light on today’s industry salaries.
Between January and May of 2026, we once again anonymously surveyed more than 500 industry professionals about their jobs and workplaces, including exactly how much money they made (pre-tax) in 2025. Our respondents span entry-level to executive roles across design, marketing, retail, operations, styling, production, wholesale and media. Their employers include retail giants like Saks Global and Revolve, designer labels like Prada and Coach, and major agencies like Karla Otto and BPCM.
We compiled average (mean) yearly pay for common roles within the sectors listed, as well as a few specific salaries, so that you can see exactly what, say, a merchandising planner at Gap or commerce editor at Condé Nast brings in each year. Plus, what were the highest and lowest reported salaries under each sector? How does experience level impact income? Which sectors make the most money overall?
Keep scrolling for those details, and download the full report for even more analysis and insights on job happiness, burnout, where people found their jobs and more.
Mean Salary by Years of Experience
As you may expect, fashion industry salaries tend to correlate with the employee’s level of experience. Compared to the year prior, average entry-level salaries increased by about $5,000, while salaries for those with more than 20 years of experience increased by about $10,000. However, mid-level salaries decreased for workers with between three and 10 years of experience.
Distribution of Six-Figure Salaries by Role
Design roles held the largest share of salaries $100K (as they did last year), followed by Corporate /Operations and Marketing (which includes PR roles).
Marketing / Brand / Communications Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $42,000 for assistants to $147,000 for directors and executives.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $281,000 (self-employed Events Manager)
Lowest: $25,000 (entry-level in-house Coordinator)
Coordinator at Prada – $40,000
Copywriter at Saks Global – $79,000
PR Assistant at Karla Otto – $48,000
PR Executive at BPCM – $125,000
In-House Marketing Head at a contemporary brand – $150,000
Retail & Merchandising Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $45,000 for senior sales associates to $95,000 for store managers and directors.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $322,000 (Regional Manager at Fortune 250 Company)
Lowest: $25,000 (Sales Associate at Madewell)
Junior Merchandiser at Catalyst Brands – $69,000
Merchandising Planner at Gap – $103,000
Merchandiser at Steve Madden – $74,000
Store Manager at Longchamp – $78,000
Corporate / Operations Salaries
On average, operations managers made $194,000 per year.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $500,000 (COO)
Lowest: $31,000 (Executive Assistant at a publicly traded company)
Entry-level Analyst at Steve Madden – $71,000
Vice President at denim brand – $165,000
Chief People Officer at medium-sized private company – $163,000
Media / Editorial Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $40,000 for editorial assistants to $175,000 for editors in chief.
Salary Spotlight
Highest $180,000 (Fashion Editor, 20+ yrs experience)
Lowest: $25,000 (Commerce Editor at a Condé Nast title)
Editorial Assistant at an LVMH house- $83,000
Freelance Writer in New York – $70,000
Associate Editor at L’Officiel – $31,000
Product Development / Production Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $52,000 for production coordinators to $155,000 for VPs.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $275,000 (Product Developer, publicly traded company)
Lowest: $35,000 (Product Developer, very small private company)
Fit Specialist at Good American – $154,000
Product Developer at Coach – $142,000
Wholesale & Buying Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $48,000 for buying assistants to $185,000 for sales directors.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $500,000 (Sales Director, 20+ yrs experience)
Lowest: $42,000 (Showroom Manager, Illinois)
Senior Buyer at Ross Stores – $140,000
Wholesale Manager for large swimwear companies – $120,000
Junior Buyer at small private company, New York – $60,000
Design Salaries
On average, salaries ranged from $65,000 for graphic designers to $133,000 for creative and design directors.
Salary Spotlight
Highest: $250,000 (Creative Director, 20+ yrs)
Lowest: $25,000 (Jr. Accessories Designer)
Accessories Designer at Coach – $58,000
Design Director at a publicly traded American fashion and lifestyle brand- $210,000
Fashion Designer at Untuckit – $125,000
Graphic Designer at LVMH – $105,000
