Best Paying Jobs in Fashion

By: Fashion School USA | April 12th, 2014 | Comments

Top Fashion Industry Salaries

The fashion industry has several jobs that entail different duties. This industry has different departments in terms of design, make-up, organization and management. Most jobs require academic qualification from fashion schools, but that is not a mandatory requirement for some. One’s job description and ranking determines their salary. In most cases, experience, skills and academic qualification are the determinants of the job to be given and the salary.

Designer

The main work of a designer is to come up with new items or develop unique items that fit fashion trends. A designer decides on the design, fabric, color and creation of items. The most highly sought after designers usually have a degree in fashion design. Other qualifications such as diplomas and certificates are also accepted but degree holders have more value. The bottom 10% of designers is paid an average of $35,000 per year. The top 10% is paid $127,000 or more.

Merchandiser

A fashion merchandiser promotes fashion items such as clothes, shoes and make-up products. They do this by identifying the target market and developing the best marketing strategies. As such, a merchandiser is required to have a background in retail and marketing. Merchandisers are the life of the business aspect of the fashion industry. The average salary of a merchandiser falls at $42,000. This means that merchandisers’ salaries range from $26,000 to $70,000. This figure could drop or increase when other factors are taken in to consideration.

Stylist

Stylists are perceived to be the fore eye of designers. A designer comes up with the design but a stylist assembles pieces together. A stylist determines what goes well with what. Stylists can work in several industries since their main job is to help people dress appropriately. As such, a stylist’s salary is determined by the industry they work in. Stylists often have an educational background in fashion design. Bonus qualifications include art. The median salary for stylists is $38,000. The lower percentile earns $27,000 while the higher tenth percentile earns $141,000.

Photographer

Professional photographers in the fashion industry work together with designers, stylists, merchandisers, shop owners and models. Their main job is to bring the fashion items to the public limelight. Merchandisers use professional photography in the marketing aspect of their job. In the recent past, photography started being taught in school. It used to be a skill that was developed personally as a hobby. Professional photographers’ salaries range from $45,000 to $100, 000.

Model

Models are usually the faces of the fashion industry. They present what people behind the scenes have developed. There are several types of models in terms of commercial models, magazine, runway and part models who model parts of the body such as feet. The job description of a model determines their salary but runway models are usually the highest paid. As such, models earn salaries from $30,000 to $150,000. Their marketability increases their salaries.

In the fashion industry, some specific factors influence people’s salaries. These include industry, marketability and location. Some areas such as New York that have a keen sense and need for fashion often have higher salaries for fashion employees. Also, fashion trends and work schedule in terms of full time or part time influence salaries. Fashion careers have no limitation of the industries they can work in, since their jobs affect everyone directly or indirectly.

Wordpress SEO Plugin by SEOPressor