Clothing, fashion and accessories designers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time clothing, fashion and accessories designers in the UK earned a median £36,848 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): £2,191 below the all-jobs median of £39,039.
What the figures show
That puts it 172nd of 382, in the middle third of occupations.
The mean, £43,399, is 18% above the median, a sign of a few very high earners.
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
Since 2021 it has risen 6.7%, from £34,549, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 18,300 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £15.75 |
| 30th percentile | – | £631.50 | £16.81 | – | £591.90* | £16.68 |
| 40th percentile | £34,924* | £672.50* | £18.11 | £34,603* | £645.00* | £17.97 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £36,848* | £716.30* | £18.80* | £36,731* | £705.60* | £18.70* |
| 60th percentile | – | £811.90* | £20.26* | – | £774.00* | £20.61* |
| Mean | £43,399 | £814.40 | £21.51 | £40,749 | £767.10 | £21.59 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £34,549* | £568.50* | £14.47 | £32,543* | £519.20* | – |
| 2022 revised | £31,336* | £632.50 | £16.24 | £31,118* | £632.40 | 11* |
| 2023 revised | – | £675.80* | £20.01* | – | £657.70* | 9* |
| 2024 revised | £36,457* | £684.50 | £17.73 | £35,977* | £670.80 | 8* |
| 2025 provisional | £36,848* | £716.30* | £18.80* | £36,731* | £705.60* | 7* |
Clothing, fashion and accessories designers by region
UK: 18,300 (± 5,300), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What clothing, fashion and accessories designers do
Clothing, fashion and accessories designers plan, direct and undertake the creation of designs for new clothing and related fashion accessories. (ONS SOC 2020, 3422)
Also covers: bridalwear designer, fashion designer, footwear designer, jewellery designer, accessory designer, apparel designer, clothes designer, clothing designer, costume designer, design assistant, designer (clothing), designer (fashion), designer (footwear), designer (jewellery), dress designer, embroidery designer, fashion predictor and footwear planner (37 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Liaises with client to determine the purpose, cost, technical specification and potential uses/users of clothing or related fashion accessory
- Undertakes research to determine market trends, production requirements, availability of resources and formulates design concepts
- Prepares sketches, designs, patterns or prototypes for textiles, clothing, footwear, jewellery, fashion accessories
- Submits design to management, sales department or client for approval, communicates design rationale and makes any necessary alterations
- Specifies materials, production method and finish for aesthetic or functional effect
- Oversees production of sample and/or finished product or produces one-off products for fashion shows
Entrants have usually completed a foundation course, BTEC/SQA award, degree and/or postgraduate qualification. Vocational qualifications in Fashion Design and Design are available at level 2 and 3, as are apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3.
Related
Design occupations (median £37,596) · Interior designers · Design occupations n.e.c. · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Mean
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026