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SOC 27-1022
Design clothing, accessories and footwear: study fashion publications, attend fashion shows and visit fabric showrooms to gather trend and fabric information; determine the design direction by target market (age, gender, income and occasion) and draw sketches and style specifications (color, structure, fabric and accessory requirements); select fabrics and production processes and calculate costs; fit sample garments on dress forms or models and revise patterns and details; discuss design plans with sales, management or clients; provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives and arrange sample showings; direct patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing staff; test fabrics to support care labels; price styles and organize collections, or promote them through channels such as buyer stores and mail-order catalogs; and provide custom design for individuals, retailers or film and theater productions and research the required period styles.
Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+25+50)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.
First judge whether you are willing to do trend research and revisions over the long term, accept concentrated overtime around fashion seasons and trade shows, and make design trade-offs under cost and process constraints; verify with this page's paper exercises and the seven-day task.
This card is a career exploration reference and does not constitute a hiring, capability score or product labeling and safety compliance conclusion.
Signals more worth considering: willing to revise drafts repeatedly and adjust designs to the target market, able to make trade-offs under cost and process constraints, and willing to keep specification sheets and cost records clear. Signals requiring caution: designing only from personal taste without regard to the target market and cost, treating fabric safety and labeling requirements as negligible details, and being unwilling to accept rework in patternmaking and sample making.
Occupational boundary: this page is written according to United States O*NET-SOC 27-1022.00 "Fashion Designers", referring to posts that design clothing and accessories and complete style specifications, fabric and process selection, sample revision and collection development; it excludes graphic and brand visual design, interior space design, physical product structure design made in batches (borne by industrial designers), retail site display, and the storage and issuance of costumes; it does not provide legal, product testing or intellectual property advice. It differs from graphic designers, interior designers, industrial designers, commercial and industrial designers, art directors, merchandise display and window decoration staff, and craft and fine artists in the object of responsibility.
Career direction comparison
The following occupations all work in design or visual creation, but the objects of responsibility differ; use them to help locate a direction, not as substitutes for one another.
| Career direction | Core work and output | Key differences | Best-fit choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic designers | Design visual identity and layout for brands and products | Mainly two-dimensional visual communication and brand graphics; this occupation focuses on clothing and accessories worn on the human body | Choose that occupation if you prefer graphic and brand visuals; choose this occupation if you prefer fabrics, patterns and wearing effects |
| Industrial designers | Design product appearance and structure and consider mass production processes | Mainly the structure and form of products made in batches; this occupation focuses on clothing worn on the body and patterns |
AI impact on this career
Editorial trial direction: trend material summaries, color variants and cost table drafts must be checked for errors, manufacturability and material rights. This round has no brand adoption or efficiency research, global task exposure cannot prove overall augmentation of this occupation, and a separate editorial task-sample estimate is shown. AI Impact Score 50% is an editorial estimate. Model impact index for three equally weighted representative core tasks; not a measured share of working time or a job-loss probability. floor((75+25+50)/3+0.5)=50; fermatmind-ai-impact-v1; 2026-10-18.The three tasks, ratings and sources are listed in the FermatMind method source record on this page.
FermatMind AI Impact Score estimation method v1
FermatMind / 费马测试 · 2026-10-18
Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Chinese mainland salary reference
Editorial verification suggestion: check brand, manufacturing, trading, e-commerce and studio posts and contracts separately; this round did not verify the national share of the employment structure.
Basis note: the industry average wage covers multiple occupations and cannot replace this occupation's wage distribution, nor represent commission or project-based income.
Insufficient evidence: no national single-occupation monthly or annual salary statistic precisely corresponding to this occupation in mainland China was obtained; this page provides only the industry average wage as background (non-private 113,594 yuan/year and private 76,055 yuan/year, 2025), which cannot be converted into a specific post's monthly salary or commission income.
Insufficient evidence: no verifiable monthly salary statistics were obtained for womenswear, menswear and accessory design posts in mainland China; recruitment announcement quotes are mostly single-employer samples and are often on a commission-inclusive or per-project basis, so they cannot represent occupational wages.
United States wage reference
The 2025 national percentile values are 39,490/51,940/80,960/106,470/146,870 USD per year, with a median hourly wage of 38.92 USD, excluding self-employment but including employed commission. BLS Table 1.2 precise 27-1022: 2025 employment 32,700; 2025—2035 growth of 0.1%, with an average of 2,500 openings per year (including replacement, not net new); self-employed 35.7%. The OOH growth rounds to 0%.
| Wage statistical position | Annual wage reference | Conversion boundaries | How to understand this position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | Below 39,490 USD per year (10th percentile, May 2025 OEWS, precise occupation 27-1022, presented via O*NET) | Official annual wage, not personal monthly income | Low end: the 10th percentile for the precise occupation is below 39,490 USD per year, at the low end of the distribution, and is not a starting salary. |
| Median (50%) | Median hourly wage 38.92 USD; median annual wage 80,960 USD (2025, BLS OEWS, presented via O*NET) |
Career fit guide
The focus of judgment is not "whether you can draw", but whether you can continuously link needs, fabrics, structure and cost into a producible collection and maintain quality through revisions and deadlines. Interest and personality frameworks can only suggest directions for observation and cannot replace verification in real projects.
You may be better suited： Willing to confirm dimensions and processes item by item according to specification sheets and process standards, rather than delivering only from a rendering
These situations require caution： Able to revise according to the basis when a fabric, process or cost problem is pointed out, rather than ignoring the feedback
Do an entry exercise： Accepts a rhythm based mainly on indoor design and patternmaking with repeated revisions and concentrated overtime, where the results are mostly producible collections and clear design records
Work pressure, risks and occupational boundaries
Editorial check direction: originality and intellectual property, fabric labeling, sample rework, overtime and prolonged sitting, contract pay and AI errors; this round obtained no incidence rates or measure effects, so the suggestions are not used as a legal or testing basis.
O*NET/BLS support design tasks and work realities, and NIST is voluntary governance; specific labeling, chemical restrictions, intellectual property and contract texts were not checked.
Typical scenario：Referencing others' designs or using unlicensed materials without checking
Roles most affected：Originality and intellectual property risk
Possible consequence：May lead to infringement disputes, product takedowns or compensation
How to reduce risk：
Entry, qualifications and career development
The United States BLS typical entry is a bachelor's degree with experience None/training classification None; O*NET JobZone3 and education 51 / 44 / 4% are not a Chinese legal threshold. In China, specific majors, portfolios and category training are checked announcement by announcement.
Career prospects and switching to related occupations
BLS Table 1.2 precise 27-1022: 2025 employment 32,700; 2025—2035 growth of 0.1%, with an average of 2,500 openings per year (including replacement, not net new); self-employed 35.7%. The OOH growth rounds to 0%. The 2025 employed median annual wage is 80,960 USD, and the Chinese manufacturing average is only the manufacturing unit background.
United States · Fashion Designers (SOC 27-1022, precise occupation)
Growth of 0.1% (2025—2035, precise 27-1022)
Employment change
Employment is projected to change very little, with average annual openings including replacement; the overall projection is not generative AI causation or a specific brand's hiring volume.
Does not establish：A projection is not an actual outcome and does not represent hiring volume in a particular region or category
Design clothing, accessories and footwear: study fashion publications, attend fashion shows and visit fabric showrooms to gather trend and fabric information; determine the design direction by target market and draw sketches and style specifications (color, structure, fabric and accessory requirements); select fabrics and production processes and calculate costs; fit sample garments on dress forms or models and revise patterns and details; discuss design plans with sales, management or clients; provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives and arrange sample showings; direct patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing staff; test fabrics to support care labels; price styles and organize collections; and provide custom design for individuals, retailers or film and theater productions.
Choose a real task from this page for a small practice project or a conversation with someone in the field. Use the planning guides to set a date, an output and feedback questions before deciding whether to continue.
This checklist is only for self-questioning and does not constitute hiring criteria, a capability score or a suitability conclusion. Even within "Fashion Designers" there is great variation (womenswear, menswear, sports and outdoor, childrenswear, bridal and evening wear, accessories and shoes and bags, knitwear and denim, and film and theater costume), and the category, whether one runs an own brand, whether one takes part in patternmaking and sample making, whether it is wholesale ready-to-wear or direct-to-consumer, and whether development is seasonal or project-based all differ; before comparing posts, first check the post's category and product type, whether independent patternmaking and sewing are required, the design software and specification standards used, how fabric and production supply chain cooperation works, whether pay includes commission and how work attribution is agreed, and local requirements for product labeling, chemical restrictions and intellectual property.
Verify with a paper drill: give yourself a completely fictional design assignment (target market and wearing occasion, budget range, available fabric list, categories and size range to cover, care labeling and safety restrictions that must be observed, available patternmaking and sample conditions), and require you to write out the design direction and sketch key points, the reasons for fabric and process choices, judgments about sample fitting and revision, the thinking on cost and pricing calculation, and which matters must be confirmed with a patternmaker, testing body or supervisor.
The daily work of fashion designers revolves around the cycle of "trend—sketch—fabric—sample—collection": studying fashion publications, attending fashion shows and visiting fabric showrooms to gather trend and fabric information; determining the design direction by target market (age, gender, income and occasion) and drawing sketches and style specifications (color, structure, fabric and accessory requirements); selecting fabrics and production processes and calculating costs; fitting sample garments on dress forms or models and revising patterns and details; discussing design plans with sales, management or clients; providing sample garments to agents and sales representatives and arranging sample showings; directing patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing staff; testing fabrics to support care labels; pricing styles and organizing collections, or promoting them through channels such as fashion boutiques and mail-order catalogs; and providing custom design for individuals, retailers or film and theater productions and researching the required period styles.
Centered on original design and collection development
Style specifications and specification sheets, fabric and process records, cost and quotation records, sample and revision records
Fashion designers and adjacent roles are often conflated, and the way to distinguish them is to look at the object of responsibility: this occupation mainly creates original designs for clothing and accessories and completes style specifications, fabric selection and sample revision; graphic designers focus on two-dimensional visuals and brand communication; interior designers are responsible for space and furnishings; industrial designers are responsible for the structure and form of physical products made in batches; commercial and industrial designers cover both product appearance and commercial packaging; art directors are responsible for the overall visual direction and team sign-off; merchandise display and window decoration staff handle display and presentation at retail sites; craft and fine artists focus on personal creation; and costume managers are responsible for the storage and issuance of costumes.
| Dimension | Primary track | Comparison track |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Design clothing and accessories, create original designs or adapt fashion trends, and complete trend research, style specifications, fabric and process selection, sample fitting and revision, and collection organization and pricing. | Complete the work from trend research and sketches to fabric selection and sample revision according to the design process |
| Main objects and basis | The objects include fabrics and trims, findings and accessories, paper patterns and dress forms, sample garments and specification sheets, cost and quotation materials, and trend and sales data; the basis is design standards, specification sheets, process standards, care labeling requirements and the employer's development process. | The objects are clothing, accessories and fabrics; the basis is design standards, specification sheets and process standards |
| Core process | Research → design → material selection → patternmaking → sample → pricing | Centered on original design and collection development, with attention to patternmaking process and cost calculation |
| Main outputs | Style specifications and specification sheets, fabric and process records, sample and revision records | Style specifications and specification sheets |
| Responsible party | Design quality, fabric safety and labeling responsibility are borne by the designer and the employer according to the standards; matters involving product safety, chemical restrictions and intellectual property must be handled according to standards, testing bodies and local laws and regulations. | Design quality and product labeling responsibility are borne jointly by the designer and the employer according to the standards |
| Authority and approval | In situations involving fabric safety and chemical restrictions, care label wording, intellectual property and trademark use, and cost and mass production feasibility, you must stop making the judgment yourself and confirm according to testing bodies, professional advice and employer rules. | Matters beyond the standards or authorization scope must be stopped and confirmed with a patternmaker, testing body or supervisor |
| Conclusion boundaries | The sales performance of a single collection does not constitute a final conclusion about an individual | Design results are affected by fashion trends, cost and production feasibility |
determining the design direction together with the target market
adjusting the design by cost and process
calculating usage and cost
directing patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing
launching samples through fashion boutiques or trade shows
interfacing with agents and sales representatives on samples
Before starting work, check item by item: the category and product type; whether independent patternmaking, cutting and sample sewing are required (O*NET work context shows 49% of respondents work more than 40 hours per week, with schedules mainly irregular and some seasonal work); the design software and specification standards used; how fabric sourcing and sampling cooperation works; whether pay includes commission and how work attribution and intellectual property are agreed; and local requirements for product labeling, chemical restrictions and intellectual property.
Check the category and product type
Check patternmaking and sample conditions
Check software and process tools
| Choose that occupation if you prefer structure and mass production; choose this occupation if you prefer fabrics and samples |
| Commercial and industrial designers | Develop product appearance for both commercial and industrial uses | Covers both product appearance and commercial packaging; this occupation focuses on clothing and accessory collections | Choose that occupation if you prefer cross-category product development; choose this occupation if you prefer clothing and accessories |
|---|
| Art directors | Set the visual direction and review design output | Mainly the overall visual direction and team sign-off; this occupation mainly involves completing design and samples personally | Choose that occupation if you prefer visual coordination and sign-off; choose this occupation if you prefer hands-on design and sampling |
|---|
| Merchandise display and window decoration | Arrange sales floors and windows to present merchandise | Mainly display and window presentation at retail sites; this occupation mainly involves product design itself | Choose that occupation if you prefer spatial display; choose this occupation if you prefer products and fabrics |
|---|
| Floral designers | Design scenes and gift styling with floral materials | Mainly plant and floral styling creation; this occupation mainly involves clothing fabrics and patterns | Choose that occupation if you prefer floral materials and scene styling; choose this occupation if you prefer clothing collections |
|---|
When comparing adjacent directions, first see whether the object of responsibility falls on "the human body and the clothing and accessories worn", "two-dimensional visual communication", "the structure and form of physical products", "space and furnishings", "display and presentation at retail sites", "overall visual direction sign-off" or "personal creation"; this occupation differs in that it completes original design around clothing worn on the body, from trends and sketches to fabrics, samples and collections, and converts design intent into producible specification sheets and costs.
Compare in the order of "first see whether the object of responsibility is the human body and clothing accessories, two-dimensional visuals, physical product structure, spatial furnishings, retail display, visual sign-off or personal creation".
Editorial trial: compare errors in summaries, variants and cost drafts against a fictional design brief. This round has no validation of specific tools for fabric properties, patterns or manufacturability, and no claim is made that ready-made tools have completed it.
Adoption requires checking brand approval, originality and novelty and material licensing, and fabric and production conditions; this round has no brand adoption survey, and no claim is made about which steps most brands adopt only.
BLS Table 1.2 precise 27-1022: 2025 employment 32,700; 2025—2035 growth of 0.1%, with an average of 2,500 openings per year (including replacement, not net new); self-employed 35.7%. The OOH growth rounds to 0%. This round obtained no causal estimate of AI effects on job change in this occupation.
| Work area | Task | Current change | Human control point |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-site design and patternmaking work | Trend research and sketch design | Material summaries and variant first drafts can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Trend research and sketch design are completed by the designer |
| Originality and compliance responsibility | Fit and wearing effect judgment | Organization of fitting records can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Fit and wearing effect are judged by real-person fitting |
| On-site design and patternmaking work | Fabric and process selection | Fabric and trim information lookup can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Fabric and process selection is decided by the designer and patternmaker |
| Commercial and cost | Collection organization and pricing | Cost table and quotation organization can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Collection organization and pricing are completed by the designer and product team |
| On-site design and patternmaking work | Communication with clients, buyers and production | Organization of meeting minutes and notices can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Communication with clients, buyers and production is borne by the designer |
| Originality and compliance responsibility | Design and revision records | Forms and summaries can be assisted (editorial judgment) | Design and revision records are kept by the designer and employer |
| Originality and compliance responsibility | Originality and copyright ownership | Retrieval and comparison can be assisted, but conclusions must be confirmed by humans (editorial judgment) | Originality and copyright ownership are made clear by the designer and employer |
The following evidence cards correspond to international organization task exposure research, official occupational data, employment projections, wage statistics and governance frameworks; please read them according to their respective research objects and limitations and do not merge them into a single conclusion.
Different work directions are affected in different ways, and three categories are distinguished below: material and process organization, on-site design and patternmaking work, and originality and compliance responsibility.
AI primarily changesTrend summaries and color drafts can be trialed
Human responsibility remainsOn-site trend research and sketch design work
AI primarily changesFabric and trim information lookup can be assisted
Human responsibility remainsPattern and wearing-effect judgments
AI primarily changesCost table and quotation organization can be assisted
Human responsibility remainsOriginality and labeling compliance responsibility
When using AI to assist work in this occupation, it is suggested that boundaries and responsibilities be confirmed in the following order:
First confirm the requirements for originality and intellectual property, fabric safety and labeling, and cost and mass production feasibility, and decide which steps may use tools.
Make clear that tools only handle material organization, variant first drafts and cost tables, and do not produce final design plans or compliance conclusions.
Check tool output item by item against design intent, fabric data and labeling requirements, and have it reviewed by a trained designer or supervisor.
Record the tool name, version, input and human changes so that design drafts, specification sheets and revision records remain traceable.
Responsibility for originality and labeling compliance is borne by designers and employers, and tool output does not constitute a conclusion that review has been passed or compliance achieved.
Generated content may directly copy someone else's design or give wrong process advice
Control: Compare item by item for originality and process feasibility, and do not proceed to patternmaking and production before verification
Unpublished designs and client materials may involve confidentiality, personal information or contractual agreements, so verify item by item.
Control: Editorial suggestion: check approval, purpose and recipient, and do not send out identifiable clients and sensitive design materials before confirmation.
Design and revision records need to be traceable, otherwise the originality and iteration process cannot be proven
Control: Record the tool name, version, input and changes, and keep design draft and specification sheet versions
Wrong pattern or fabric judgments can lead to scrapped samples and cost losses
Control: Do a physical review of key pattern and fabric judgments, and ask the patternmaker or supervisor to confirm immediately when something is abnormal
Originality and labeling compliance require clearly defined responsibility
Control: Make clear the review rules for designers and supervisors, and nothing may be released externally or put into production without review
First master the basics of human body proportions and patterns and the key points of fabric properties and sewing processes, and complete one full small cycle from sketch to sample under mentoring.
Fix trend research, sketches, specification sheets and sample revision into a process, ask the patternmaker or supervisor first when fabric and process problems arise, and keep records of every design version and revision.
Use AI for trend material summaries, first drafts of color and pattern variants, fabric and trim information lookup, cost table organization and copy drafting, while retaining original judgment and real-person fitting, and being explicitly responsible for originality and labeling compliance.
First establish rules on originality and intellectual property, fabric safety and labeling, and cost and mass production feasibility, then decide in which steps to use AI, and clarify design responsibility and approval ownership.
This round cannot determine overall augmentation, substitution or duty change for the occupation; tool validation, brand adoption, global exposure and employment outcomes are judged separately.
Source: ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET 27-1022.00 task dataOriginal source ↗
This occupation requires design creativity and pattern and process experience, and O*NET lists it as Job Zone Three (medium preparation, SVP 6.0 to <7.0), while BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education; the work is mainly indoor design and patternmaking, with irregular schedules and concentrated overtime. AI can assist with material organization and variant first drafts but cannot replace original judgment, fit assessment or compliance confirmation.
Source: O*NET 27-1022.00 technical skills and preparation levelOriginal source ↗
Editorial observation direction: the review cost of trend summaries, variants and cost drafts; this round has no measured ranking of the tasks most directly affected.
Source: ILO Working Paper 96 (2023); O*NET task dataOriginal source ↗
BLS Table 1.2 precise 27-1022: 2025 employment 32,700; 2025—2035 growth of 0.1%, with an average of 2,500 openings per year (including replacement, not net new); self-employed 35.7%. The OOH growth rounds to 0%. No disappearance date is inferred from this.
Source: BLS employment projections (2025—2035)Original source ↗
No. Tools can organize materials and generate variant first drafts, but original design judgment, fabric hand and fit assessment, pattern and process decisions, and intellectual property and labeling compliance require professional experience and responsibility, and must be carried out by trained designers and supervisors according to standards and regulations; design and revision records likewise require attribution and review, and tool output itself creates no attribution of responsibility.
Source: NIST AI risk management framework; product safety, labeling and intellectual property requirementsOriginal source ↗
This round has no evidence supporting disappearance in a given year or a definite shift in the center of tasks, and the overall projection does not prove AI effects.
Source: BLS employment projections; ILO Working Paper 96Original source ↗
Prioritize learning three things: first, human body proportions and pattern basics and fabric and sewing processes; second, standard use of mainstream design software and of specification sheets and cost tables; third, the basic requirements for fabric composition and care labels, chemical restrictions and intellectual property; and practice writing design intent as dimensions and process instructions that can be patterned and produced.
Source: O*NET 27-1022.00; BLS employment and wage statisticsOriginal source ↗
The above are task-level judgments and evidence boundaries and do not represent a definite forecast of post numbers.
Insufficient evidence: no verifiable monthly salary statistics were obtained for other regions and employment models (brand full-time, contract manufacturing, independent studios and project-based work); differences across cities, categories and scale are large and must be checked against the brand and post.
This round obtained no precise occupational wage; the manufacturing urban unit average applies only to the manufacturing unit background and does not represent retail, wholesale or self-employed design income.
| Education background | Common post directions | Notes and verification suggestions |
|---|---|---|
| High school or secondary vocational school education | Sample and process assistant post | Editorial post example: the sample sewing assistant leans toward an adjacent production post and the actual design duties must be checked; it is not presumed from high school or secondary vocational school education. |
| Junior college or bachelor's degree (fashion design and engineering and related majors) | Design assistant and product development post | Editorial post example: specification, specification sheet and sample tracking require checking the portfolio and training, and independent ability is not presumed from a junior college or bachelor's degree. |
| Bachelor's degree or above (fashion design, textile or art design majors) | Designer and design supervisor post | Editorial post example: collection design and coordination require checking experience, portfolio and appointment, and supervisor ability is not automatically presumed from a bachelor's degree. |
| Cross-disciplinary (design plus textile or supply chain) | Specialist post in fabric and product development | Needs to be filled in: fabric performance and cost calculation training |
The following uses the average wage of the "manufacturing" industry as an industry background proxy and cannot replace this occupation's wages; if you see recruitment figures, first check whether they are a fixed monthly salary, include sales commission, or are priced per project or per style.
Editorial job-search direction: check design announcements from clothing and accessory production units, and do not infer demand from the manufacturing average.
Editorial job-search direction: check retail own-brand and wholesale product development duties.
Editorial job-search direction: check the contracts and development duties of independent design services.
Editorial observation direction: design draft tools can be trialed, and this round has no Chinese research on this occupation's income or demand effects.
| Official annual wage, not personal take-home pay |
| Median: 80,960 USD per year (median hourly wage 38.92 USD, 2025); half of practitioners earn below and half above this value. |
| Highest 10% | Above 146,870 USD per year (90th percentile, May 2025 OEWS, precise occupation 27-1022, presented via O*NET) | Official annual wage, not personal take-home pay | High end: the 90th percentile for the precise occupation is above 146,870 USD per year, usually related to brand, category and region. |
|---|
Wage · 10th percentile：Below 39,490 USD per year；Wage · 10th percentile｜below 39,490 USD per year； national 10th percentile for the precise occupation (27-1022)｜not an entry-level starting salary.
Wage · 25th percentile：Below 51,940 USD per year；Wage · 25th percentile｜below 51,940 USD per year； national 25th percentile for the precise occupation (27-1022)｜not an entry-level starting salary.
Wage · median：80,960 USD per year；Wage · median｜80,960 USD per year； median hourly wage 38.92 USD (May 2025 OEWS)｜half of practitioners earn below and half above this value.
Wage · 75th percentile：Below 106,470 USD per year；Wage · 75th percentile｜below 106,470 USD per year； national 75th percentile for precise 27-1022｜excludes self-employment, but employed commission is included in the OEWS basis.
Wage · 90th percentile：Above 146,870 USD per year；Wage · 90th percentile｜above 146,870 USD per year； national 90th percentile for the precise occupation (27-1022)｜does not represent the overall upper limit of this occupation.
The median is not a starting salary; the medians of the four industries published in the OOH are listed according to the original industry scope, without interpolation.
Statistics for this occupation give both hourly and annual median wages, but the two cannot be used to derive personal take-home income; the pay method (fixed salary, sales commission or per-project pricing) and self-employment and outsourcing arrangements all affect actual income.
The 2025 national percentile values were verified via O*NET, and the medians of the four detailed industries come directly from the BLS OOH; the current projection is the BLS2025—2035 precise row. OEWS excludes self-employment and includes employed commission.
Category and brand scale, city, pay method and whether one is self-employed all affect actual income; different bases cannot be mixed.
| Industry | Median wage for this occupation within the industry | How to understand this value |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing, fabric and sewing trim wholesale trade | 91,020 USD per year (2025) | BLS OOH May2025 median wage for fashion designers in that industry; not the average for wholesale trade as a whole. |
| Retail trade | 43,020 USD per year (2025) | BLS OOH May2025 median wage for this occupation in retail trade; not the national occupational median. |
| Apparel manufacturing | 79,040 USD per year (2025) | BLS OOH May2025 median wage for this occupation in apparel manufacturing, not extended to all accessory manufacturing. |
| Corporate and enterprise management | 105,350 USD per year (2025) | BLS OOH May2025 median wage for fashion designers in that industry, not a managerial wage. |
The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of practitioners within the same statistical period, not a starting salary; this occupation commonly has irregular schedules and concentrated overtime during fashion seasons, and some designers take work on a self-employed or project basis, so personal income must be judged together with the pay method and actual hours (O*NET work context shows 49% of respondents work more than 40 hours per week).
BLS Table 1.2 precise 27-1022: 2025 employment 32,700; 2025—2035 growth of 0.1%, with an average of 2,500 openings per year (including replacement, not net new); self-employed 35.7%. The OOH growth rounds to 0%. The difference from the old period does not imply a change in statistical coverage.
The BLS typical entry is a bachelor's degree, with related experience classified as None and on-the-job training classified as None; the statistical classification is not a training exemption or a guarantee of being able to take on design independently.
Employment · employment size｜32,700 people； 2025 BLS precise 27-1022 projection base period｜this is a different publication period from the older 2024, and the difference does not imply a change in statistical scope.
Employment · growth rate｜0.1% (2025—2035)； the OOH rounds to 0%｜not the probability that an individual obtains a post.
Employment · projected job openings｜2,500 per year (2025—2035)； projected annual average for the precise occupation｜includes replacement, not net new.
O*NET occupational interest baseline
A (Artistic), R (Realistic), E (Enterprising)Mainly Artistic (A), with Realistic (R) and Enterprising (E) — oriented toward creative expression, craft making and communication and business.
The occupational interest information on this page comes from the O*NET interest code ARE for Fashion Designers (27-1022.00); it describes work activity preferences, is not an individual assessment result, and cannot be used to infer fit or hiring likelihood.
Which Holland type is closer to fashion designers?
The official interest code is mainly A (Artistic), with some R (Realistic) and E (Enterprising): corresponding to creative expression, craft and physical making, and communication and business inclinations. Interest codes only describe activity preferences and do not represent capability, hiring or design level conclusions.
Do not use it this way: Designing only from personal aesthetic taste; if you do not accept the target market and cost constraints and are unwilling to accept patternmaking and sample rework, both the work experience and the output will be greatly affected.
Test my Holland occupational interestsWhich Big Five traits are more relevant to this work?
This round obtained no validation research on the Big Five predicting design performance in this occupation; it serves only as an editorial prompt for observing revision, records and pressure.
Do not use it this way: Treating personality test results as a career conclusion, or excluding yourself on that basis.
View my Big Five personality traitsCan MBTI be used to judge whether I am suited to fashion design?
This round obtained no validation evidence on MBTI for performance in this occupation, and preference reflection returns to sample, specification and cost tasks.
Do not use it this way: Using a type label to explain that you are not creative or unwilling to revise drafts according to the process.
Understand my MBTI preferencesCan the Enneagram show whether I am suited to this occupation?
The Enneagram is a self-reflection tool. More practical questions for this work are: can you stay meticulous through repeated revisions, and revise the pattern after sample fitting according to feedback and explain your reasons; these questions can be verified directly in real design tasks.
Do not use it this way: Treating a type description as proof of occupational fit.
Explore my Enneagram patternsIf I am bad at math, can I be a fashion designer?
O*NET JobZone3, SVP6.0 to <7.0, education 51% bachelor's / 44% associate's or two-year / 4% high school; the BLS typical entry is a bachelor's degree with experience None/training classification None, which is not the absence of employer or legal training.
Do not use it this way: Treating one test result as the ceiling of your ability.
Understand my intelligence and reasoning performanceDo fashion designers need high emotional intelligence?
Editorial observation suggestion: check revision stability, patternmaking collaboration and requirement clarification; this round obtained no validity evidence of emotional intelligence scales for this occupation.
Do not use it this way: Replacing verification of the portfolio and process level with a high or low emotional intelligence label.
Understand my emotional intelligence abilityFits better when: Prefers two-dimensional visuals and brand communication
Watch for: Would rather do graphic and brand visuals than clothing and accessories
Explore related career: Graphic designer directionFits better when: Prefers product structure and mass production
Watch for: Would rather do mass-manufactured products than clothing patterns
Explore related career: Industrial designer directionFits better when: Prefers cross-category product development
Watch for: Would rather do commercial packaging and product appearance
Explore related career: Commercial and industrial designer directionFits better when: Prefers visual coordination and sign-off
Watch for: Would rather set the visual direction than make samples personally
Explore related career: Floral designer directionFits better when: Prefers retail site display
Watch for: Would rather do sales floor display than product design
Explore related career: Art director directionFits better when: Prefers floral materials and scene styling
Watch for: Would rather use floral materials for styling than clothing fabrics
Explore related career: Merchandise display and window decoration directionNo. Interest tests only describe preferences, do not measure ability, and do not predict hiring or performance. They can be used to explain your inclination toward creative expression and physical making, but whether you are suited must be verified in real tasks: whether you can complete the full cycle from trends to samples and revise the design according to specification sheets, fabrics and cost requirements.
O*NET lists CAD and image and graphics tools; specific software and programming requirements should be checked announcement by announcement, and this round did not examine how widespread digital patternmaking collaboration tools have become.
A more accurate statement is that creativity and resilience are needed: maintaining output quality through repeated revisions, communicating design intent clearly with patternmakers and clients, and staying steady under concentrated overtime. These abilities can be observed and trained through project practice and are not personality thresholds.
Whether you are suited depends on tasks and commitment rather than a personality label. This work requires long periods of sitting to draw and do patternmaking (sitting continually or almost continually 37% in O*NET work context), and 43% of respondents report irregular schedules and 49% work more than 40 hours per week. Being introverted is no obstacle, but if you fully reject revision rework and concentrated overtime, the work experience will be affected.
United States JobZone3, education 51 / 44 / 4% and the typical bachelor's degree are survey and statistical findings, and None is not a training exemption. In China, majors, portfolios and skills should be checked against specific announcements, and no national unified entry point is assumed.
Yes, but it takes time. Common tools include pen and paper and dress forms, sewing and patternmaking tools, apparel CAD and graphics and image software, and specification sheets and cost tables; at the entry stage you should at least complete one full small cycle from trend research and sketches and fabric selection to sample revision under mentoring and keep records.
Both paths are feasible: with a design or textile background you need to add software standards, patterns and cost calculation; without a professional background you need to add human body proportions and the basics of fabrics and sewing processes. The key is to show the complete process from concept to producible sample in the portfolio.
It matters. Participating in one complete development season at a clothing brand, contract manufacturer or independent studio exposes you to real target markets, fabric and cost constraints, and patternmaking and sample processes and produces presentable design drafts and specification sheets; these experiences show better than merely attending classes whether you can handle the daily work of this occupation.
O*NET work context shows this occupation is mainly indoor design and patternmaking: sitting continually or almost continually 37%, requiring long periods of using hands to handle tools and objects (continually or almost continually 36%); work schedules are mainly irregular (43%) with some seasonal work (13%), and 49% of respondents work more than 40 hours per week; the work requires a high degree of exactness and accuracy (extremely important 34%, very important 13%). Specific shift and overtime arrangements must be verified with the employer.
No. Tests can only suggest interest directions, and career choice still requires checking real tasks, portfolio requirements, fabric and labeling knowledge, and performance in this page's exercises; it is suggested that you verify with participation in one real development season and one portfolio review.
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work context data · O*NET tasks and work context data
Typical scenario：Not checking composition, chemical restrictions or label wording
Roles most affected：Fabric safety and labeling risk
Possible consequence：May lead to noncompliant products or consumer complaints
How to reduce risk：Select fabrics according to composition and chemical restriction requirements and check care labels, and submit for testing where necessary
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work context data · O*NET tasks and work context data
Typical scenario：Putting into production before the pattern and process are confirmed
Roles most affected：Patternmaking and sample rework risk
Possible consequence：May lead to scrapped samples and cost overruns
How to reduce risk：Confirm pattern and process feasibility with the patternmaker and review item by item against dimension and process standards
Evidence：O*NET tasks and work context data · O*NET tasks and work context data
Typical scenario：Continuous overtime during fashion season or long periods of sitting
Roles most affected：Overtime and prolonged sitting health risk
Possible consequence：May lead to neck, shoulder and lower back strain and fatigue
How to reduce risk：Arrange rest and workstation according to the work rhythm, reduce continuous sitting and honestly report discomfort
Evidence：BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook：Fashion Designers · O*NET tasks and work context data
Typical scenario：Unclear pay method or copyright arrangement
Roles most affected：Pay and copyright arrangement risk
Possible consequence：May affect take-home income and work attribution
How to reduce risk：Check the pay method and commission rules, make the attribution and copyright arrangements clear and keep evidence
Evidence：BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook：Fashion Designers · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook：Fashion Designers
Typical scenario：Treating tool output as the final design or compliance basis
Roles most affected：AI-assisted content risk
Possible consequence：May generate infringing material or wrong process advice
How to reduce risk：Check material sources and process feasibility item by item, and do not proceed to patternmaking and production before verification
Evidence：NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) · NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)
| Entry directions | Starting tasks | Evidence that can be prepared | Works that can be shown without experience | Differences to note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design assistant post | Organize trend materials and draw style first drafts under mentoring | Design and material records | Write out a target-market trend and style memo | Leans toward an execution scenario, requiring attention to the target market and cost awareness |
| Sample and process assistant post | Complete sample sewing and finishing according to the specification sheet and record revisions | Sample and process records | Write out sample revision and process key points | Leans toward a process scenario, requiring attention to dimension and process standards |
| Fabric and product development post | Organize fabric and trim materials and track sampling | Fabric and sampling records | Write out a fabric selection and sampling tracking sheet | Leans toward a supply chain scenario, requiring attention to cost and lead time |
| Designer post | Independently complete style design and sample tracking by category | Collection and cost records | Prepare a style specification and cost comparison table | Leans toward a design scenario, requiring attention to the division of labor with patternmaking and production |
| Design supervisor post | Assign design tasks, review originality and compliance and manage progress | Quality and review records | Prepare a design review and compliance checklist | Leans toward a team-leading scenario, requiring attention to records and review |
Check education, major direction and portfolio requirements, and record the announcement date and whether hiring is still open.
Distinguish "liking to draw" from "being able to link needs, fabrics and cost into a producible collection", and do not replace the portfolio and process level with interest.
Check local requirements for product labeling, chemical restrictions and intellectual property, and whether non-compete, attribution and copyright arrangements are involved.
Record the requirements and their validity period; changing regions or employers requires re-verification.
O*NET JobZone3, SVP6.0 to <7.0, education 51 / 44 / 4%; the BLS typical entry is a bachelor's degree with experience None and on-the-job training classification None, which is not treated as having no training requirement.
The preparation level describes the occupation overall and does not represent the qualification conditions of a specific category or employer.
Check the need to use pen and paper and dress forms, sewing and patternmaking tools, apparel CAD and graphics and image software (such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop), and specification sheets and cost tables.
List the actual use scenarios, and do not replace design judgment and process ability with a tool list.
Give the target market and wearing occasion, budget range, available fabric list, categories and size range to cover, care labeling and safety restrictions that must be observed, and available patternmaking and sample conditions, as the input for this exercise.
Mark units and missing items and state that the material is entirely fictional.
List the missing information that may affect the judgment.
State that the exercise uses fictional materials and does not represent any real brand, enterprise or employer.
Checkable output: design direction and sketch key points, reasons for fabric and process choices, sample fitting and revision judgments, the thinking on cost and pricing calculation, and situations in which the patternmaker or supervisor must be asked to confirm.
State the boundary: product safety, labeling and intellectual property conclusions must be made by testing bodies, professional advice or competent authorities.
Requires writing out the design direction and sketch key points, the reasons for fabric and process choices, and judgments about sample fitting and revision, and stating which matters must be confirmed with a patternmaker, testing body or supervisor.
Exercise output: an executable design statement and development key points.
First set the direction by target market and wearing occasion, then choose processes by fabric and cost constraints, and finally verify fit and drape through sample fitting and revise.
For fabric safety or intellectual property questions that cannot be confirmed, keep them unknown and seek professional advice, rather than judging from experience.
State that the reference approach is only an example and not the only correct method.
This exercise does not constitute a legal, product testing or intellectual property conclusion; labeling compliance and copyright judgments are carried out by testing bodies, professional advice or competent authorities according to standards.
List the education, portfolio and skill requirements of the target announcement item by item in a comparison table.
Mark the items already met, to be completed and to be verified.
Choose a fictional category and write out the reasons for the choices from trends to fabrics and processes.
Show the ability to make trade-offs by target market and cost and explain the basis.
Record style specifications, fabric requirements, cost estimates and revision key points on one page.
Mark the source basis and the parts that could not be verified.
Describe the software used, the specification sheet standards and the material sources so that others can review it.
Mark which steps used AI assistance and were manually verified.
| Scenario | Questions that may be asked | Evidence that can be shown | Conclusions that cannot be inferred from this |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | Whether you can explain the correspondence between design decisions and the target market. | Check whether you can explain design trade-offs according to needs and cost. | Whether to hire is judged by the employer, not decided by the applicant. |
| Portfolio review | Whether you can show the complete process from concept to sample. | Use design drafts, specification sheets and samples to show executability. | One review does not mean you can independently take on all categories. |
| Probation or development season assessment | Whether you can produce steadily through revisions and deadlines and record revisions honestly. | Use version and revision records to show traceability. | Short-term performance does not represent long-term design capability. |
| After joining | Whether fabric, labeling and copyright requirements can be executed according to standards and documented. | Use fabric, labeling and copyright records to show traceability. | Following the process does not replace testing body and competent authority requirements. |
Excerpt one market or process requirement and write out the execution key points.
Write out color, fabric and category directions by target market.
List the information that needs to be recorded for specification sheets, fabrics and revisions.
Write out the reasons for fabric selection, cost estimates and process constraints.
Write out key points for checking labels, chemical restrictions and intellectual property.
Ask an experienced designer or patternmaker to point out design and process omissions and record the feedback.
Write down whether you want to continue, what you need to make up, and which judgments you cannot make yourself.
| Qualification / preparation items | Suitable groups | Its role for this occupation | Whether it is generally required | Conditions and investment | Scale of investment | What it cannot replace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (fashion design or a related major) | Most design posts | Meets the basic entry conditions | BLS lists it as the typical entry-level education for this occupation | According to institution and portfolio requirements | Several years to many years | A higher or lower education level does not equal design level and process ability |
| Associate's or other two-year degree | Some design and assistant posts | About 44% in the O*NET education survey | Not generally required | According to institution and employer post requirements | One to two years | Education does not equal being able to take on collection design independently |
| High school diploma or equivalent | Some assistant and sample posts | About 4% in the O*NET education survey | Not generally required | According to employer and post requirements | Accumulated on the job | Education does not equal design or process authorization |
| Portfolio and design software ability | Target design and development posts (check announcement by announcement) | Can demonstrate the design process and software ability, and hiring is judged by the specific employer | Check the specific employer's requirements and do not assume it is generally required for all posts | Accumulated through projects and courses | Several months to several years | A portfolio does not replace labeling and copyright compliance confirmation |
| Fabric and label testing knowledge | Posts involving fabrics and mass production development | Meets product safety and labeling requirements | Depends on category and market requirements | Standard study and submission for testing | Several weeks to several months | Does not equal being able to issue testing or compliance conclusions oneself |
| Patternmaking and sewing process training | Posts involving samples and mass production | Meets pattern and process operation requirements | Depends on post requirements | Employer or institution training | Several weeks to several months | Training does not equal being able to replace a patternmaker or process specialist |
Typical scope：Assist with organizing trend materials and drawing style first drafts
Readiness evidence：Design and material records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on apparel design related education and portfolio, checked against employer and local requirements
Next moves：Independently complete the sketch and specification for one style
Typical scope：Complete sample sewing and finishing according to the specification sheet
Readiness evidence：Sample and process records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on sewing and process experience
Next moves：Complete samples according to standards and record revisions
Typical scope：Organize fabric and trim materials and track sampling
Readiness evidence：Fabric and sampling records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on fabric and supply chain knowledge
Next moves：Take responsibility for fabric selection and sampling tracking
Typical scope：Assign design tasks and review originality and compliance
Readiness evidence：Design and review records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on experience and employer appointment
Next moves：Develop toward design management
Typical scope：Design accessory and shoe and bag styles and track sampling
Readiness evidence：Design and sampling records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on category experience and process understanding
Next moves：Take responsibility for the development of one accessory category
Typical scope：Design styles according to yarn and washing processes
Readiness evidence：Process and sampling records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on fabric and process experience
Next moves：Take responsibility for specialized knitwear or denim development
Typical scope：Research period styles and design performance costumes
Readiness evidence：Styling and making records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on theater and styling experience
Take responsibility for production styling design and making coordination
Typical scope：Design according to brand positioning and follow up whole-season development
Readiness evidence：Collection and cost records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on brand and category experience
Next moves：Independently manage the development of one collection
Typical scope：Select styles and develop based on sales data
Readiness evidence：Style selection and sales records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on market and data ability
Next moves：Take responsibility for style selection and development plans
Typical scope：Design independently and sell through e-commerce or fashion boutiques
Readiness evidence：Own-brand and sales records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on design and business ability
Take responsibility for brand operations and supply chain
Able to complete trend material organization, sketches and sample assistant work under mentoring and record them honestly.
Able to independently complete style specifications, sample tracking and revisions according to specification sheets and process standards.
Able to independently complete collection design and coordinate patternmaking, sampling and cost calculation.
Able to lead a team to set the design direction, review originality and compliance and manage development progress.
United States · Fashion Designers (SOC 27-1022, precise occupation)
32,700 people (2025, precise 27-1022)
Employment size
Employment size and openings are not the same measure; openings are the projected annual average and include replacement needs
Does not establish：Statistics for the precise occupation; differences by region, category and scale are large
Mainland China · Manufacturing (industry category)
Non-private 113,594 yuan/year; private 76,055 yuan/year
Industry wage (industry proxy)
The industry average wage covers multiple occupations and cannot replace this occupation's wages
Does not establish：An industry category basis that does not include a single-occupation wage distribution
These are capability relationships, not automatic promotions or credential waivers.
Transfers：Design aesthetics and software use basics
Build next：Needs to be filled in: two-dimensional visual and brand communication skills
View career profileTransfers：Form and shape design ability
Build next：Needs to be filled in: product structure and mass production process ability
View career profileTransfers：Cross-category design understanding
Build next：Needs to be filled in: product appearance and commercial packaging ability
View career profileTransfers：Design review and communication experience
Build next：Needs to be filled in: visual coordination and team sign-off ability
View career profileTransfers：Styling and visual presentation ability
Build next：Needs to be filled in: exhibition space and formal design ability
View career profileTransfers：Visual presentation and brand understanding
Build next：Needs to be filled in: retail display and spatial styling ability
View career profileTransfers：Craft and styling basics
Build next：Needs to be filled in: personal creation and exhibition ability
View career profileTransfers：Apparel and making experience
Build next：Needs to be filled in: costume storage, issuance and maintenance ability
View career profileThe objects of responsibility differ: this occupation completes original design around clothing and accessories worn on the human body, from trends and sketches to fabrics, samples and collections; graphic designers focus on two-dimensional visuals and brand communication; industrial designers are responsible for the structure and form of mass-manufactured products; commercial and industrial designers cover both product appearance and commercial packaging; art directors are responsible for the overall visual direction and team sign-off; merchandise display and window decoration staff handle display and presentation at retail sites; and floral designers focus on floral styling.
United States O*NET-SOC 27-1022.00 "Fashion Designers", corresponding to SOC 27-1022, in Job Zone Three (medium preparation, SVP 6.0 to <7.0), interest code ARE, and not flagged as Bright Outlook; the median wage and percentiles are BLS OEWS estimates for this precise occupation (May 2025, presented via O*NET); employment and growth have a 2024—2034 projection basis presented by O*NET and a BLS OOH 2025—2035 basis, which this page marks separately.
In 2025 the median hourly wage was 38.92 USD and the median annual wage 80,960 USD; the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles were about 39,490, 51,940, 106,470 and 146,870 USD per year (May 2025 OEWS, precise occupation 27-1022, presented via O*NET). Officials have not published an industry-specific median wage for this occupation, and this page keeps the gap rather than filling it in.
The 2024—2034 projection basis presented by O*NET: employment about 25,700 (2024), projected to grow less than average (1% to 2%), with an estimated average of about 2,300 job openings per year (this value is the projected annual average and includes replacement needs). BLS OOH basis 2025—2035: about 32,700 posts (2025), 0% (no change or little change), with an average of about 2,500 openings per year, most from replacement needs. The statistical scope and period of the two bases differ, and this page marks them separately without conversion.
The National Bureau of Statistics data checked this time are on an industry category basis, and no national single-occupation wage statistic precisely corresponding to this occupation was obtained; this page uses the average wage of "manufacturing" urban units (2025 non-private 113,594 yuan/year, private 76,055 yuan/year) as an industry proxy, which only describes the industry background, and does not replace occupational wages with an industry average or a single recruitment quote.
O*NET lists this occupation as Job Zone Three (medium preparation), SVP 6.0 to <7.0; in the education survey about 51% indicated that a bachelor's degree is needed, 44% indicated an associate's or other two-year degree and 4% indicated a high school diploma. BLS notes that the typical entry-level education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training. Portfolios and design software ability are generally a key focus for employers; work involving fabric safety and labeling and chemical restrictions also requires specialized training according to standards and testing requirements. In mainland China, apparel design or textile related education plus a portfolio is commonly required, and the specifics are subject to recruitment announcements and local provisions.
A more accurate judgment is that some tasks will be assisted by tools and that the occupation as a whole will mainly see augmentation and structural adjustment. A 2023 ILO study shows that task exposure varies widely across occupations and that technical feasibility does not mean brands have already adopted it; meanwhile original design judgment, fabric hand and fit assessment, pattern and process decisions, and intellectual property and labeling compliance require professional experience and responsibility, so the conclusion is that the way of working will change rather than that the occupation as a whole will be replaced.
No. The median is the midpoint of the wage distribution of practitioners within the same statistical period, not a starting salary. This occupation commonly has irregular schedules and concentrated overtime during fashion seasons, and some designers take work on a self-employed or project basis; personal income must be judged together with the pay method (fixed salary, sales commission or per-project pricing) and actual hours (O*NET work context shows 49% of respondents work more than 40 hours per week).
Yes, but a portfolio and professional skills are usually required. BLS notes that the typical entry-level education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training; the portfolio and design software and pattern and process ability are key items employers examine. Posts involving fabric safety and labeling and chemical restrictions also require specialized training. Whether it is feasible depends on the target employer and local provisions; design and product labeling in the United States are constrained by product safety and chemical restrictions, labeling rules and intellectual property law, and this page does not replace the original regulations.
FermatMind career content research process
2026-10-11 (nine-module author check; pending independent review)
This round directly checked O*NET27-1022 tasks/education/work context and national wages, the BLS2025—2035 Table 1.2 and the OOH published medians for four industries and employment structure; NBS2025 manufacturing table is a unit background, and OEWS includes employed commission. The old FAQ shared sources are retained.
Limitations：United States occupational data do not automatically imply employment, labeling or intellectual property requirements in mainland China.
Limitations：This is the precise occupation page; wages are on the OEWS basis and exclude self-employment and commission income.
Limitations：A projection is not an actual outcome; the average annual openings include replacement needs and cannot be broken down into individual hiring probability; the two projection bases have different statistical periods.
Limitations：This is occupation-level wage statistics; the median is not a starting salary; OEWS excludes self-employment and commission income and cannot represent project-based or own-brand income.
Limitations：The industry average wage covers multiple occupations and cannot be taken as this occupation's median, starting salary or commission income.
Limitations：Task exposure does not equal actual adoption, productivity or job change; the share of highly exposed tasks in original design and compliance responsibility work is usually lower.
Limitations：The governance framework contains no occupational or employment statistics and cannot serve as occupational outlook or employment evidence.
Limitations：It is not an external occupational fact source and does not replace official statistics or jurisdictional rules.
Limitations：The median for this occupation within the industry, not the average of all occupations in the industry; OEWS excludes self-employment.
Limitations：Editorial ratings use the existing occupational responsibilities and AI task analysis on this page. They are not adoption rates, measured effects, job-disappearance or personal-unemployment probabilities, or official scores from Stanford or another external institution. No measured time weights or future robot deployment are assumed.
Precise Chinese occupational wages or a national entry point, specific AI adoption effects, psychological validity, and the specific texts on labeling and intellectual property were not obtained. The BLS published four-industry medians, so a partial correction is not called an official non-publication. The current 32700/0.1%/2500 and the older Hero/FAQ25700/2024—2034/2300 are separate periods; the old shared sources are unchanged, and whole-page consistency is not asserted.
MBTI (English) · Big Five (English) · MBTI (Chinese) · Big Five (Chinese)
Check production and supply chain conditions
Check pay and copyright arrangements
Check local regulations and labeling requirements
Typical scope：Set dimension and process standards and review samples
Readiness evidence：Tech pack and sample records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on patternmaking and process experience
Next moves：Develop toward technical design
Typical scope：Responsible for the design direction, originality and compliance system
Readiness evidence：System and review records (editorial suggestion)
Credential boundary：Mainly based on experience and employer appointment
Next moves：Develop toward creative and design management
Limitations：Applies only to the occupational description; fabric safety, labeling, chemical restriction and intellectual property requirements must be verified separately against standards, testing bodies and the original competent authority text.
