Fashion designer salary and the national line
The national full-time adult ordinary-time average sits at $2,083.70 a week, or about $108,352 a year, according to the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026. This is the line that Place a salary on the line uses as a benchmark. For fashion designers, the picture is different. Jobs and Skills Australia reports a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,500 for Fashion, Industrial and Jewellery Designers. That works out to roughly $78,000 a year – well below the national full-time average and also below the national full-time median of about $90,532.
What the data tells us
The Jobs and Skills Australia figure is a median, not an average. It comes from the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2023) and covers full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. This removes managers, part-timers and junior rates, making it a useful comparison across occupations. For fashion designers, 85% work full-time, and the average full-time week is 43 hours. The median hourly earnings are $40, compared with $43 for all occupations.
Why state location moves the figure
State full-time averages vary significantly. According to the on-site notes derived from the ABS:
- New South Wales: $109,658
- Victoria: $106,137
- Queensland: $106,064
- South Australia: $102,450
- Western Australia: $115,825
- Tasmania: $96,008
- Northern Territory: $103,173
- Australian Capital Territory: $119,090
A fashion designer working in the ACT or Western Australia is likely to earn more than one in Tasmania or South Australia, even in the same role. This is partly because the cost of living and industry mix differ. The national average masks these local variations. For a deeper look at how your state compares, see States and territories.
How award coverage affects pay
The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week on a 38-hour week, which comes to about $52,255 a year. Award minimums rose by 4.75% from that date. Many fashion designers are covered by the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award or the General Retail Industry Award, depending on their role. These awards set minimum rates above the national minimum, but they are still well below the national full-time average.
Individual arrangements and enterprise agreements
About 38.5% of all employees have their pay set by individual arrangement, and 34.6% by collective agreement, according to the ABS Employee Earnings and Hours survey for May 2025. For fashion designers, those who work for larger brands or in high-end retail may negotiate above-award rates. Those in small boutiques or freelance roles may rely on award minimums. The median of $1,500 a week suggests that many designers are paid above the award but still below the national average.
Comparing with other occupations
The national full-time median for all occupations is about $1,741 a week ($90,532 a year). Fashion designers' median of $1,500 is about 14% lower. This is not unusual for creative occupations, where supply of labour can be high and entry-level wages low. However, experienced designers or those in management roles can earn significantly more. The ABS data for Managers shows a median hourly earnings of $69.20, but that is a different occupation group.
What this means for your salary check
When you Place a salary on the line, the tool compares your yearly salary before tax to the national full-time average of $108,352. If you are a fashion designer earning the median of $78,000, you would be about $30,000 below the line. But remember: the line is an average, not a target. Many factors – state, award, experience, and employer size – can legitimately move your pay away from it. The key is to understand where your pay sits relative to the market and what levers you can pull to improve it.
A note on medians and averages
The national full-time average ($108,352) is pulled up by high earners. The median ($90,532) is a better indicator of what a typical full-time worker earns. For fashion designers, the median is even lower. Always check whether a figure is an average or a median before drawing conclusions. The ABS publishes both, and this site uses the average as its line because it is the most widely cited benchmark.
Summary
Fashion designer pay in Australia sits below the national full-time average and median. State location and award coverage are two major reasons why. A designer in the ACT on an enterprise agreement may earn close to the national average, while one in Tasmania on the award may earn much less. Understanding these factors helps you see where your salary fits and what might be possible to negotiate.