Clothing, fashion and accessories designers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£36,731
Employment patterns
- 69% of Clothing, fashion work full-time
- 61% are self-employed
- 94% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Clothing, fashion and accessories designers pay in the UK
The typical clothing, fashion and accessories designers in the UK earns a median salary of £36,731 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £40,749. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical clothing, fashion and accessories designers actually takes home.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Around 61% of Clothing, fashion are self-employed, well above most occupations, so the employee pay above will not capture earnings for those working for themselves; only 69% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: clothing, fashion and accessories designers pay ranges from £24,123 in North East up to £43,602 in London, a difference of £19,480 (81%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see clothing, fashion and accessories designers pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for clothing, fashion and accessories designers at £43,602 — 19% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £24,123.
UK median £36,731
| Region | Median payUK median £36,731 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £43,602 | £43,602 | £50,985 | +19% |
| East of England | £34,159 | £34,159 | £35,216 | -7% |
| Scotland | £31,396 | £31,396 | £31,691 | -15% |
| South East | £30,857 | £30,857 | £35,821 | -16% |
| North West | £30,117 | £30,117 | £30,148 | -18% |
| Wales | £30,040 | £30,040 | £31,913 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £28,782 | £28,782 | £29,779 | -22% |
| West Midlands | £28,383 | £28,383 | £28,226 | -23% |
| East Midlands | £27,388 | £27,388 | £28,175 | -25% |
| South West | £26,217 | £26,217 | £26,796 | -29% |
| North East | £24,123 | £24,123 | £25,306 | -34% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £43,602 | £43,602Mean £50,985 | +19% |
| East of England £34,159 | £34,159Mean £35,216 | -7% |
| Scotland £31,396 | £31,396Mean £31,691 | -15% |
| South East £30,857 | £30,857Mean £35,821 | -16% |
| North West £30,117 | £30,117Mean £30,148 | -18% |
| Wales £30,040 | £30,040Mean £31,913 | -18% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £28,782 | £28,782Mean £29,779 | -22% |
| West Midlands £28,383 | £28,383Mean £28,226 | -23% |
| East Midlands £27,388 | £27,388Mean £28,175 | -25% |
| South West £26,217 | £26,217Mean £26,796 | -29% |
| North East £24,123 | £24,123Mean £25,306 | -34% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£36,731); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local clothing, fashion and accessories designers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow clothing, fashion and accessories designers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for clothing, fashion and accessories designers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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