Fashion Designer Salary in New York, NY
Fashion Designers in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $99,560 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,037 take-home, or $6,170 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median fashion designer salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,073
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,173
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,444
- New York income tax$4,834
- Take-home pay$74,037
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $3,424 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $70,613 ($5,884 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Fashion Designer pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,880 | $30.23 | $49,906 | $4,159 |
| 25th percentile | $77,280 | $37.15 | $59,620 | $4,968 |
| Median (50th) | $99,560 | $47.87 | $74,037 | $6,170 |
| 75th percentile | $131,960 | $63.44 | $94,715 | $7,893 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,030 | $85.59 | $123,486 | $10,290 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,560 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median fashion designer's $74,037 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,774 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
New York, NY has 4.2× the national concentration of fashion designer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for fashion designers, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $99,560 | $74,037 | $65,774 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: fashion designers
Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.1% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fashion designer make in New York, NY?
The median fashion designer salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $99,560 a year, or about $47.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,280 and $131,960.
What is a fashion designer’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $99,560 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $74,037 a year ($6,170 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,834 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a fashion designer?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $80,960. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,774 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a fashion designer afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median fashion designer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
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- Producer and Director — $108,460
- Film and Video Editor — $104,590
- Editor — $102,120
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- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $93,410
- Interpreter and Translator — $87,590
- Public Relations Specialist — $84,130
- Graphic Designer — $79,280
- Interior Designer — $76,580
- Audio and Video Technician — $72,300