Top Paying Cities for Fashion Stylists

Fashion Stylist Salary – The city where you establish your styling career greatly influences your earning ability. Below are salary averages for the U.S. metropolitan areas that offer the highest fashion stylist pay:

• New York, NY: $107,483 per year
• Los Angeles, CA: $94,797 per year
• Miami, FL: $69,157 per year
• Washington, DC: $67,953 per year
• Chicago, IL: $66,173 per year
• Las Vegas, NV: $65,879 per year
• Atlanta, GA: $64,987 per year
• San Francisco, CA: $64,281 per year
• Seattle, WA: $63,426 per year
• Houston, TX: $62,607 per year

As you can see, the major fashion and entertainment hubs of New York City and Los Angeles offer salaries about 50% higher Fashion Stylist Salary than other large metro areas. However, competition is also fierce in these cities. Breaking into the top tier of high-earning celebrity and runway stylists can take years of work.

But how lucrative is working as a fashion stylist? What is the average stylist salary and what factors impact earnings? This article will explore fashion stylist pay, including entry-level and top salaries, geographic variations, and tips for earning more as a stylist.

Fashion Stylist Salary Overview

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a fashion stylist in the United States is $73,380 as of May 2021. The top 10% of earners make $154,170 or more per year. However, there is significant variation in fashion stylist pay based on factors like location, experience, clientele, and whether you work as an in-house employee or a freelancer.

Entry-Level Fashion Stylist Salary

Stylists just starting out in the industry often work as assistants or interns for more experienced fashion pros. In these roles, they perform basic styling duties while learning the ropes. According to Glassdoor, entry-level fashion stylist and fashion assistant salaries tend to range from $25,000 to $50,000 per year. The lowest 10% of salaried fashion assistants make $20,000 or less, while the highest 10% have salaries of $65,000 or more. Pay scales up from there with each year of experience.

Median Fashion Stylist Salaries

The middle 50% of fashion stylists earn between $48,150 and $116,250 per year according to the BLS. This includes stylists with a few years of experience both as employees and freelancers. The median annual pay, meaning the salary in the exact middle of this range, is $73,380. That breaks down to around $35 per hour. Fashion stylists tend to earn more than hair stylists and estheticians but less than art directors and creative directors in fashion.

Factors That Influence Fashion Stylist Salaries

Several key factors impact how much a fashion stylist gets paid. These include:

• Years of experience – Like most careers, fashion stylists earn more as they become more seasoned. There is a steep learning curve at first. But with 5-10 years under your belt, you can command much higher rates.
• Location – Stylist salaries vary dramatically by where you live and work. You’ll find the highest pay in major fashion centers and entertainment hubs like New York and Los Angeles. Lower salaries are the norm in small towns and rural areas.
• Clientele – Celebrities, models, and brand campaigns pay the most for top stylists. Everyday clients tend to have smaller budgets, limiting your earning potential.
• In-house vs freelance – In-house stylists at magazines, fashion brands, or talent agencies earn steadier salaries. Freelancers have more variable incomes but the potential for higher top earnings.
• Specialization – Stylists who specialize in areas like menswear, couture, athleisure, or music videos can typically charge more.

Top Salaries for Experienced Fashion Stylists

Once fashion stylists are established in their careers, their salaries can skyrocket – especially if they work with A-list clientele. Some of the top-earning stylists in the industry today include:

• Petra Flannery: With clients like Amy Adams, Emma Stone, and Zoe Saldana, Flannery can earn over $10,000 per day for red carpet styling. Her net worth is estimated between $800,000 to $1 million.
• Leslie Fremar: Fremar has worked with Charlize Theron, Julianne Moore, and Reese Witherspoon. She charges several thousand dollars per day plus commissions on clothing acquired for jobs. Her net worth is around $1 million.
• Elizabeth Stewart: Known for her work with Cate Blanchett, Amanda Seyfried, and Julia Roberts, Stewart can earn $10,000 to $15,000 per day. She has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
• Micaela Erlanger: Micaela Erlanger styles Lupita Nyong’o, Meryl Streep, and Jared Leto. Top celebrity stylists like her can command $300,000 or more per year. Her net worth is estimated at $850,000 and growing.
• Jason Bolden: Bolden earned over $1 million in 2016 alone thanks to his roster of celebrity clients including Taraji P. Henson, Yara Shahidi, and Alicia Keys. His net worth tops $2 million.

The top fashion stylists in the industry can charge thousands per day for their work. Consulting with multiple celebrity clients and working on branding deals can earn them over $1 million per year once established.

Salary Differences for In-House vs Freelance Stylists

One of the biggest factors affecting a fashion stylist’s earnings is whether they work as an employee for a company or independently.

In-house fashion stylists work on staff at publications like magazines and newspapers or for fashion brands, retailers, modeling agencies, or talent agencies. According to the BLS, their average salary is $70,600 per year, with the top 10% earning $117,010 on average. There is more stability and possibly benefits with a salaried staff position. However, salary caps limit your earning capacity.

Freelance fashion stylists are self-employed and work on a project basis with various clients. They tend to earn more per hour or day but have less consistency in their schedules and income. Top freelance fashion stylists can make well into six figures annually. But they also pay for their own insurance, supplies, transportation, marketing and other expenses. Freelancing provides more freedom but less security than being a staff stylist.

Tips for Earning More as a Fashion Stylist

No matter where you currently are in your fashion styling career, there are steps you can take to increase your income:

• Build an impressive portfolio – A strong portfolio highlights your best work and demonstrates your skills in aspects like editorial styling, e-commerce, music videos, and red carpet. Invest time and effort into photo shoots that showcase your talents.
• Gain new specialty skills – Take classes or courses in areas like menswear, vintage styling, working with influencers, and costume design for film/TV. Specializing makes you more valuable.
• Get advanced training – Earn certifications or a degree related to fashion styling, fashion merchandising, fashion design, or costume design. This provides credentials that add to your professional worth.
• Learn social media strategy – Master platforms like Instagram and TikTok. An engaged social following acts as a marketing channel to attract new clients.
• Increase your rates strategically – As you gain experience, don’t be afraid to charge more per hour or per project. But base rate hikes on your expertise and demand – not an arbitrary timeline.
• Expand your clientele – Take on more celebrity clients once you have the connections and reputation. Or increase your reach to new geographic markets.
• Negotiate residuals – When working with major brands, negotiate usage fees for photos/videos that continue generating impressions and engagement over time.
• Get retailer commissions – Establish affiliate relationships with brands to earn commissions when clients purchase items you styled.
• Sell your own products – Designing and selling your own fashion lines or styling products allows you to earn passive income.
• Hire assistants – Developing a team allows you to take on more clients and delegate basic styling tasks. But assistant salaries cut into your pay, so balance carefully.

The Role of a Fashion Stylist

Fashion stylists help clients look their best by selecting the most flattering clothing, accessories, hair, and makeup for photo shoots, videos, events, and everyday life. It’s an exciting career that allows you to work with models, celebrities, and influencers while expressing your creative fashion sense.

A fashion stylist’s primary responsibility is to choose stylish, camera-ready looks for their clients. This involves keeping up with the latest fashion trends and understanding which colors, silhouettes, and combinations will be most photogenic. For models, the stylist selects outfits and accessories provided by fashion brands for advertisements and runway shows.

For celebrities, the stylist works with the client’s existing wardrobe or borrows pieces to create looks for the red carpet, photo shoots, talk shows, and other public appearances. For influencers and everyday clients, a stylist shops retail stores to find optimal fashion pieces for the individual’s body type, lifestyle, and budget.

In addition to clothing, a fashion stylist is also responsible for hair, makeup, and accessory styling to complete the overall look. This may involve collaborating with hair stylists and makeup artists to develop a cohesive style. It also means accessorizing with items like jewelry, handbags, sunglasses, and shoes. Top stylists have a knack for pulling amazing looks together and understanding how to create visually appealing outfits tailored to each client.

Conclusion

Fashion stylists have ample opportunities to earn attractive salaries, especially in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. While entry-level roles may pay $25,000 to $50,000, median salaries range from $48,150 to $116,250. With 5-10 years of experience, fashion stylists can earn well over $100,000, particularly if working with celebrity clientele.

The highest-paid stylists charge thousands per day and make over $1 million annually once established in the industry. Whether you work in-house for a fashion company or independently, focus on building an impressive portfolio, gaining specialty skills, and expanding your clientele to maximize your income as a fashion stylist. Read more about fashion stylist salary at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.