
Fashion Designer Salary: A fashion designer in India earns around Rs 3.5 to 4 LPA on average. With experience and expertise, the fashion designer salary may rise to Rs 20 to 30 LPA. Metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc, often offer higher salary packages for fashion designers compared to smaller cities. The fashion designer salary fluctuates based on the reputation of the firm, candidate’s experience, creativity skills, and location of the firm.
Fashion design salary is an important aspect that attracts aspirants to pursue a fashion design career. With India’s fast-evolving fashion industry, fashion design continues to attract aspirants for dynamic opportunities and growth.
Fashion designer salary in India vary based on your level of experience, where you work, and the kind of company you join. Designers working with top firms often enjoy even higher pay, sometimes reaching impressive seven-figure incomes annually. With the design industry expanding rapidly, there are opportunities for both creative and financial growth.
Here are some aspects related to fashion design salary for your knowledge.
| Fashion Designer Salary Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Job Profile | Fashion Designing |
| Average Starting Salary | Rs 2.5 to 3.5 LPA |
| Freelancer Salary | Rs 15,000 to 30,000 LPA |
| Senior Position Salary | Rs 10 to 15 LPA |
| Job Roles | Apparel, Costume, Fashion Designer, Fashion Illustrator |
| Recruiters | Tech-fashion startups, and e-commerce brands, Myntra, Amazon |
In India, entry-level fashion designers typically earn a starting salary based on their skills, internship experience, and the company they join. Freshers can expect a monthly salary of ₹20,000–30,000, which translates to an annual package of around ₹2.5–4 LPA. Graduates from reputed institutes or those with strong portfolios may start on the higher end of this range, especially in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore.
In India, a fashion designer’s monthly salary varies based on experience, location, and job role. Entry-level designers typically earn ₹20,000–30,000 per month, while mid-level designers with 3–6 years of experience earn around ₹50,000–1,00,000 per month. Senior fashion designers and creative leads can earn ₹1.5–2.5 lakh per month or more, especially when working with top brands, export houses, or luxury designers in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
Fashion designer salary progresses with experience. Entry-level designers can earn around Rs 20,000 to 30,000 monthly, which gradually increases with the designer’s experience. Senior designers with extensive expertise may command salaries upwards of Rs 80,000 to Rs 2,00,000 monthly.
Given below is the salary structure for fashion designers based on their experience in the fashion field.
| Fashion Designer Salary Based on Experience | ||
| Career Level | Experience | Average Annual Salary (Rs) |
| Entry-Level | 0-2 years | Rs 2.5 to 4.5 LPA |
| Mid-Level | 3-6 years | RS 5 to 8 LPA |
| Senior Level | More than 7 years | Rs 9 to 15 LPA |
| Top Designers and Entrepreneurs | - | Rs 20 LPA and above |
With so many job opportunities available for fashion designers, the salary fluctuates based on job roles and experience. Assistant and junior fashion designers earn around Rs 2 to 5.5 LPA, while senior designers can make up to Rs 3 to 13 LPA. The diversity in the salary structure shows the dynamic nature of the fashion industry.
Here is the fashion designer salary based on the job profile.
| Fashion Designer Salary Based on Job Roles | ||
| Job Profiles | Description | Average Annual Salary |
| Apparel Designer | Create clothes combining consumer expectations with fashion trends. Involves selecting fabrics and materials, making sketches and prototypes, and designing garments. | Rs 4 to 8 LPA |
| Textile Designer | Design fabrics for clothing, home furnishings, and other products. | Rs 3 to 7 LPA |
| Footwear Designer | Create sketches, select materials, and collaborate with manufacturers to produce wearable footwear designs. | Rs 4.5 to 9 LPA |
| Accessories Designer | Creates stylish and functional products like jewelry, bags, belts, and hats, complementing fashion trends. | Rs 3.5 to 7 LPA |
| Fashion Illustrator | Creates artistic sketches and visual representations of clothing and accessory designs. | Rs 2.5 to 6 LPA |
| Costume Designer | Collaborate with directors and actors to create clothes for characters in films, theater, and television productions. | Rs 5 to 10 LPA |
Tier-1 cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore offer comparatively higher salaries to fashion designers. With a strong fashion industry presence in these cities, designers earn lucrative salaries from top brands, bridal couture, and e-commerce companies. Refer to the following table to get insights into the fashion designer salary as per the location of the forms.
| Fashion Designer Salary Based Location | |
| Location of Companies/Firms | Average Annual Salary (Rs) |
| Delhi | 4.96 L |
| Pune | 3.11 L |
| Bangalore | 4.42 L |
| Mumbai | 6.31 L |
| Chennai | 4.29 L |
| Kolkata | 3.50 L |
| Jaipur | 3.56 L |
In India, fashion designer salaries can differ a lot depending on the company you work for. Top fashion houses like Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, and Reliance Brands are known to offer some of the highest salaries, with senior designers making between Rs 20 and Rs 50 lakh a year or even more. Refer to the following table to know about the salary of a fashion designer across various companies.
| Fashion Designer Salary Based on Companies | |
| Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (Rs) |
| Levis | 6.2 L |
| Allen Solly | 5.6 L |
| Adidas | 7.47 L |
| Raymond | 5.5 L |
| Lifestyle | 5.2 L |
| Pantaloons | 4.8 L |
| Hidesign | 5.8 L |
| Marks & Spencers | 6.11 L |
| Zara | 6.8 L |
The career of a fashion designer has experienced significant growth worldwide. Places like the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada are among the top destinations for fashion designers. Below is a table showing the average salaries for fashion designers in these countries to give you a clearer idea.
| Fashion Designer Salary Based on Country | |
| Country | Average Annual Salary (Rs) |
| USA | 62.31 L |
| UK | 45.93 L |
| Australia | 57.24 L |
| Canada | 53.78 L |
| Germany | 55.89 L |
| Japan | 41.70 L |
| China | 23.64 L |
Fashion designers in Japan earn competitive salaries, supported by the country’s strong fashion, textile, and streetwear industries. On average, a fashion designer in Japan earns around ₹40–42 LPA. Entry-level designers typically make ₹25–30 LPA, while mid-level professionals earn between ₹35–45 LPA annually. Senior fashion designers and creative leads with strong portfolios can earn ₹50–70 LPA or more, especially in fashion hubs like Tokyo and Osaka. Japan is particularly known for opportunities in street fashion, luxury labels, and textile innovation, making it an attractive destination for skilled designers.
Fashion designers in the United States earn some of the highest salaries globally, with average annual pay ranging from ₹55–65 LPA. Entry-level designers earn around ₹35–45 LPA, while experienced and senior professionals can earn ₹1 crore or more per year, especially in cities like New York and Los Angeles.
In Australia, fashion designers earn an average of ₹50–60 LPA annually. Freshers typically earn ₹30–40 LPA, while senior designers can make ₹70–90 LPA. Sydney and Melbourne offer the best opportunities, particularly in sustainable and lifestyle fashion.
After completing the fashion design course, candidates also have the opportunity to do freelancing. Freelance fashion designers in India can earn around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 8 LPA, depending on the client base, experience, and work profile. Freelancing offers flexibility with salaries increasing alongside their reputation and skill set. As the fashion world keeps evolving, freelancing not only allows creative freedom but also offers great potential to boost your income.
Here are some of the top companies in India that hire both freshers and experienced fashion designers. Leading brands like Sabyasachi, Manish Malhotra, and Reliance Brands are known for offering excellent career opportunities.
| Top Recruiters for Fashion Designers | ||
| Manish Malhotra | Mango | Adidas |
| Raymond | Lifestyle | Pantaloons |
| Bata | Hidesign | Marks & Spencers |