Fashion design is an exciting field that offers wide opportunities for aspiring designers to showcase their creativity and passion. The field offers a lot of opportunities for candidates to work with renowned brands and well-known designers. They also get the option to be part of international fashion events and contribute their share in the expanding luxury fashion market.
The industry offers good scope to designers to work in different profiles as well as allows them to become entrepreneurs. In this post, let’s take a look at the salary of a fashion designer in India, based on different categories.
Salary of Fashion Designers in India 2025
On average, fashion designers in India earn between Rs. 0.6 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakhs with an average annual pay of Rs 4.3 lakhs. However, with experience, the salary range increases and can go up to Rs 30 lakhs and beyond per annum. The earning of a fashion designer varies from several lakhs to crores in the case of renowned designers.
The fashion industry is competitive and depending on your talent and opportunities, one can earn good remuneration in this industry. Let’s take a look at the salaries of fashion designers in India as per different variables.
Salary of Fashion Designers in India as per Skills/Specialization
The salary of a fashion designer varies in terms of their creative talent to create new styles in the most innovative and original style. Fashion designers create unique styles of clothing, footwear, and jewelry among other products. Having a good fashion sense and creative skills helps fashion designers earn competitive salaries even as freshers.
| Expertise as per Specialization/Skills | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Fashion Merchandiser | Rs 0.3 lakhs – Rs 7.4 lakhs |
| Apparel Designer | Rs 0.3 lakhs -Rs 10.2 lakhs |
| Senior Fashion Designer | Rs 3 lakhs – 13 lakhs |
| Freelance Fashion Designer | Rs 0.3 lakhs – Rs 8.2 lakhs |
| Assistant Fashion Designer | Rs 0.8 lakhs – Rs 6.7 lakhs |
Salary of Fashion Designers in India as per Experience
The range of salary of a fashion designer also varies as per their years of experience. A fresher in fashion design can earn a salary ranging between Rs. 0.6 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakhs with an average annual pay of Rs 4.3 lakhs. This goes up with each year of experience that they gain. Below is the salary range that Fashion Designers in India can earn based on their work experience:
| Experience level | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Entry-Level | Rs 2.5 lakhs – Rs 5 lakhs |
| Mid-Level | Rs 5 lakhs – Rs 12 lakhs |
| Senior-level | Rs 12 lakhs – Rs 30 lakhs |
| Working with Renowned Designers | Rs 30 lakhs and beyond |
Salary of Fashion Designers in India as per Industry
Salaries of Fashion Designers also differ in terms of their designation and work responsibilities. Depending on their designation as well as the terms and conditions of work, the pay package of a Fashion Designer is decided. Here’s a list for your understanding:
| Industry | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Retail industry | Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakhs, Avg Sal. Rs 5.8 lakhs |
| Textile and fashion industry | Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 8 lakhs, Avg Sal. Rs 5 lakhs |
| Import and Export industry | Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 8 lakhs, Avg Sal. Rs 4 lakhs |
| Education and training industry | Rs 0.2 lakh to Rs 6 lakhs, Avg Sal. Rs 2.8 lakhs |
Salary of Fashion Designers in India as per City/Location
The city or the location of your work also impacts the salary of a fashion designer. The bigger the city, the higher the cost of living. Hence, most companies in metro cities pay high remuneration compared to small cities and towns. Take a look:
| City/Location | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Mumbai | Rs 0.6 lakhs to Rs 7.8 lakhs with an average Rs 4.5 lakhs |
| Bangalore | Rs 1.2 lakhs to Rs 8.6 lakhs with an average Rs 4.9 lakhs |
| Noida | Rs 2 lakh to Rs 6.6 lakh with an average salary of Rs 4.3 lakhs |
| New Delhi | Rs 1.3 lakh to Rs 7.9 lakhs with average salary of Rs 4.5 lakhs |
| Kolkata | Rs 1.1 lakh to Rs 6 lakhs with average salary of Rs 4.2 lakhs |
| Lucknow | Rs 1 lakh to Rs 6 lakhs with average salary of Rs 4 lakh |
Salary of Fashion Designers in India as per Company
The company that recruits a fashion designer also has a role to play when it comes to the salary they earn. Hence, depending on the size and growth of the company, job description, and the industry, the salary of a fashion designer varies as shown below:
| Company/Brand | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Reliance Trends | Rs 3.6 – 9.7 lakhs and beyond |
| Mohanlal and Sons | Rs 3.2 – 8.2 lakhs and beyond |
| Pantaloons | Rs 1.2 – 7.1 lakhs and beyond |
| Matrix Clothing | Rs 2.4 – 7 lakhs and beyond |
| Landmark Group | Rs. 2.1 – 6.7 lakhs and beyond |
Source: AmbitionBox
Note: These salary figures given above are for reference purposes and may vary depending on various factors.
Career Options For Fashion Designers?
The range of job profiles or career options available in fashion design catering to different aspects of the industry include:
- Fashion Designer
- Fashion Illustrator
- Fashion Stylist
- Fashion Merchandiser
- Fashion Product Manager
- Textile Designer
- Stylist
- Retail Manager
- Technical Designer
- Creative directors
Conclusion
India’s fashion industry is growing at a fast speed fueled by booming e-commerce and consumer awareness. Looking at the rich textile heritage of the country, there are tremendous growth prospects for fashion designers in India. The industry is creating abundant prospects for the growth of fashion designers.
However, to thrive and reach the zenith of success in this industry, it is important to develop skills in design and stay updated with industry trends. Also, building a professional network is important. To achieve success in all these aspects, aspiring designers need to pursue quality programs in fashion design.