Fashion Illustrators
Overview
Introduction
Fashion illustrators work in the exciting world of fashion. Their artistic focus is specifically on styles of clothing and personal image. Illustrators use a variety of media (for example, pencil, pen and ink, or computer technology) to create illustrations that appear in print and digital formats. Illustrations are used to advertise new fashions, promote models, and popularize designers. Approximately 26,300 illustrators and other fine artists are employed in the United States; only a small percentage of these professionals special...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Fashion illustrators earned salaries that ranged from $32,500 to $96,000 in 2024, according to SimplyHired.com. They earned average salaries of $59,345.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that fine artists, including illustrators, earned median annual salaries of $59,300 in May 2023. The lowest 10 percent of all fine artists earned less than $28,390, and the highest 10 percent earned m...
Work Environment
Although illustrators typically have well-lighted, organized work spaces with room to accommodate their tools, they are also in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Illustrators may often need to put in long or irregular hours to complete an assignment to a client’s satisfaction. Freelance illustrators have the added pressure of continually seeking new clients and uncertain incomes. Estab...
Outlook
Employment for fine artists is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all careers from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. For illustrators specifically working in fashion, employment will likely be dependent on the prosperity of companies and organizations that are involved with the fashion field, such as magazines, newspapers, advertising firms, and fashio...
