Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world, in fact, according to global management firm, Mckinsey and Company, the fashion sector as a whole, compared to the GDP of countries around the world, comes 7th.
In 2022, the global fashion industry was estimated to be worth USD 1.5 trillion, according to Statista. That said, the fashion industry is comprised of many important moving parts; and these parts are made of careers and people who as a collective power the economic juggernaut that is global fashion.
In this post, we will take a closer look at some of the fashion career options a person can take and how much they stand to earn. Let’s dive in.
1. Fashion Designer ($37,000 – $78,000)
A fashion designer sketches, designs and knits apparel, putting together fashion articles from raw material to finished products ready to be sold to customers.
There are many types of fashion designers including but not limited to Haute Couture designers, Ready To Wear designers, Costume designers, Mass Market designers, Footwear designers, Accessory designers and many more.
According to Zippia, a career expert company that provides online recruitment services, the annual salary of a fashion designer in the US ranges between $37,000 to $78,000.
The salary of a fashion designer varies with regard to location, education and experience but the highest-paying industry for fashion designers in the US is retail while the highest-paying brand is Ralph Lauren.
The skills needed to be a successful fashion designer include; creativity, drawing, sewing, collaboration, project management, attention to detail and the ability to problem-solve.
Read our post The Main Types Of Fashion Design to get a better understanding of the different fashion designers and what they do.
2. Stylist ($51,000 – $60,000)
Fashion stylists use clothing to build image, they also provide fashion advice, chose clothing for models and supervise fashion photoshoots.
A fashion stylist can work for an individual client, a fashion house or brand, or even an entertainment company. Some of the highly sought styling opportunities are in the entertainment industry; and include styling actors, musicians and other performers.
According to salary.com, the annual salary of a stylist in the US ranges between $51,000 to $60,000.
The salary of a fashion stylist typically depends on who they are working for; for example, if a stylist bags a famous celebrity or personality they can earn a fortune. In the same way, if a stylist is just starting out, they will typically earn pennies until they earn their stripes.
Skills needed to be a successful stylist include; an eye for detail and visual composition, a good knowledge of fashion trends, an in-depth understanding of fashion brands and designers, a positive attitude, good communication skills and an excellent work ethic.
You will be literally managing someone else’s wardrobe. That will no doubt call for working long hours most of the time.
3. Model ($53,000 – $500,000)
Models showcase clothing and other fashion articles in runway shows, photoshoots, adverts and magazines.
Models work for brands, fashion companies and designers. In addition, different kinds of models work in different industries in advertisement and brand awareness.
The main types of modelling include editorial modelling, runway modelling, Lingerie or swimsuit modelling, commercial modelling, fitness modelling and body part modelling.
The annual salary of a model in the US can vary from as high as $401,000 to as low as $11,000 according to ZipRecruiter.
This doesn’t take into account the highest-paid models who work with big modelling companies and fashion brands. The highest-paid model in the world as of 2023 is Kendel Jenner. Her annual income is over $20 Million a year.
Skills needed to be a model include dexterity and good body movement and coordination (this can be taught) ability to listen, learn and adapt, patience, teamwork, assertiveness and determination.
Being a social media celebrity like Kim Kardashian wouldn’t hurt either.
Read our posts: The Top Male Models in The World and The Top Female Models in The World to know the men and women at the top of the modelling industry.
Read our posts: The Main Types of Fashion Modelling and Helpful Tips On How To Become A Fashion Model to gain more insight into the world of fashion modelling.
4. E-Commerce Manager ($74,000 – $180,000)
An E-commerce manager coordinates all the aspects of an online store, from devising sale strategies, researching trending fashion items, marketing and promoting sales.
With big fashion brands like Zara, Zalando and H&M embracing the internet and running online stores that bring in millions of dollars in revenue, being a competent E-commerce manager is a skill that is more important than ever.
According to Zippia, the annual salary of an E-commerce manager in the US ranges between $74,000 to $180,000.
The skills needed to be a successful E-commerce manager include good analytical skills (useful in understanding traffic metrics for an online store) in-depth knowledge of fashion trends, teamwork and collaboration as well as problem-solving skills.
5. Brand/Marketing Manager ($93,000 – $116,000)
A brand manager, as the name suggests, manages how the public perceives a brand. They are ultimately responsible for all marketing efforts, all advertisements, a brand’s social media presence, lead acquisition and driving sales from marketing efforts.
Fashion brands are among the top public engagement brands. As such, a brand manager in a fashion company is a key personnel without whom the brand would lose a lot of business.
The salary of a brand manager in the US according to Salary.com ranges between $93,000 to $116,000.
The skills needed to be a successful brand manager include teamwork, leadership skills, the ability to motivate and gel a team, analytical skills and problem-solving skills among others.
6. Fashion Photographer ($40,000 – $52,000)
Fashion photographers take pictures of models, fashion items including clothing and accessories, hairstyles, makeups, fashion advert pieces, fashion shows as well as other fashion-oriented activities.
In addition, fashion photographers are responsible for how fashion articles are represented in fashion magazines and other forms of print media.
As such, if you have a passion for photography, as well as a passion for fashion, this is a career that pays really well.
According to salary.com, the annual salary for a fashion photographer ranges between $40,000 and $52,000.
Skills needed to be a fashion photographer include photography, an eye for detail and visual composition, excellent communication skills (you will be called upon to direct models on different poses) teamwork and collaboration. (You will also be called upon to work in tandem with brand managers, fashion designers, fashion editors, stylists and other fashion professionals.
7. Fashion Editor ($17,000 – $105,000)
A fashion editor manages all the aspects of a fashion brand’s content. This includes planning, developing and presenting both visual, audio and written content.
A fashion editor works in collaboration with many fashion professionals including brand managers, photographers, videographers, writers, stylists and many more.
According to Zip Recruiter, the salary of a fashion editor in the US varies greatly and ranges between $17,000 and $105,000.
Skills needed to be a fashion editor includes creative writing, copywriting, editing, proofreading, time management and teamwork.
Summary
The fashion industry provides several career opportunities, indeed, exploring all the available career opportunities afforded by the fashion industry in one blog post may not be possible.
Other well-paying careers in fashion include Art directors, Model recruiting agents, Clothing product developers and many more. The truth is, most conventional careers will have a fashion parallel or something close to it. That”s how wide the fashion industry has become.
Thank you for reading.
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