8.2 - Fashion Designer: Salary and conditions

Fashion Designer: Salary and conditions

• Variety of standard starting salary is: £14,000 - £22,000 (April 2009).
• A junior designer can expect to earn £25,000 - £45,000 within three to four years of work (April 2009).
• Variety of standard salaries at senior to head designer level: £45,000 - £85,000 (April 2009)
• Salaries vary depending on environmental location and type of employer they are.
• Working hours normally include extra hours.
• The working environment varies among companies and can vary from a Victorian-style factory, to a contemporary purpose-built office or a small design studio. Freelance designers may work from home or in a rented studio.
• With the increase in online retailing, setting up in business or being self-employed is becoming more common, even straight after graduation. Extensive market research, business training and resilience are critical for any fashion business to succeed.
• The male-female gender ratio is approximately 1:3.
• The majority of opportunities are available in London and the South East and some large towns and cities in the North West and Scotland, with pockets of industry in the Midlands. Opportunities are also beginning to spring up outside these areas.
• The pressure of deadlines and working unsocial hours to meet these can intrude on private life.
• Career success relies on a combination of creativity, perseverance, resilience and good communication skills.
• Travel within the working day, overnight absence from home and overseas work are occasionally needed. There is scope for travel abroad, for example to attend trade shows or to meet suppliers.