Fashion Journalist Salary: What You’ll Make and Why
Fashion journalists make around $38,851 to $51,102 on average in the US, depending on experience, location, skills, and other factors.
According to various salary aggregate websites, a fashion journalist’s average salary in the US ranges between $38,851 and $51,102. As of March 2022, the average base salaries for fashion journalists are as follows:
| Payscale | ZipRecruiter | Indeed | Salary.com | Glassdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $49,479 | $51,102 | $38,851 | $42,406 | $49,819 |
Keep in mind: Salary aggregate websites typically rely on data submitted anonymously by individuals using their site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of data of either higher or lower than average salaries, which may affect the site’s calculated average.
Read more: What Is a Fashion Journalist? How to Become One
What influences a salary?
A fashion journalist’s salary can be impacted by many factors, including their experience, the size of the publication they work for, and whether they freelance or not. Let’s take a closer look at how these factors can affect a fashion journalist’s salary.
Years of experience
Salary increases are generally tied to your experience level. In general, the more years you spend working as a fashion journalist, the more you can expect to earn. Here’s how experience can impact your fashion journalist salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey.
| Level of experience | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry-level (less than 1 year) | $21,456 |
| Early career (1 to 4 years) | $25,722 |
| Mid career (5 to 9 years) | $37,458 |
| Experienced (10 to 19 years) | $57,646 |
| Late career (20+ years) | $90,703 |
Location
Where you live can also impact how much you can make as a fashion journalist. Typically, working in a large metropolitan area correlates to a higher salary, as well as a higher cost of living.
Here is a list of some major cities with their corresponding average fashion journalist salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| City | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington DC, DC | $75,905 |
| New York City, NY | $65,650 |
| Denver, CO | $62,360 |
| Atlanta, GA | $58,536 |
| Seattle, WA | $57,055 |
| Baltimore, MD | $47,847 |
| Birmingham, AL | $42,542 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $39,573 |
| Boston, MA | $37,045 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $36,710 |
How does this compare to similar jobs?
Here’s how a fashion journalist’s salary stacks up against similar jobs.
| Related Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Fashion Editor | $51,478 |
| Fashion Writer | $56,895 |
| Fashion Publicist | $53,683 |
| Fashion Stylist | $44,274 |
| Fashion Consultant | $22,583 |
| Fashion Designer | $50,793 |
| Fashion Merchandiser | $35,149 |
| Fashion Photographer | $41,354 |
| Fashion Sales Associate | $27,343 |
How to increase your fashion journalist salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could expect to earn as a fashion journalist, let’s look at ways to boost your salary.
1. Strengthen your skills
Pursuing and improving in-demand skills could make you more competitive for promotions and higher-paying positions. These skills include:
- Fashion Industry Knowledge: Stay up-to-date on the latest fashion industry news and trends
- Writing: Write well-crafted, compelling articles that tell a story and engage the reader
- Editing: Edit your own work as well as the work of others for grammar, style, and clarity
- Photography: Understand how to take flattering photos of clothing and models
- Social Media: Use social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, to promote your work
2. Know Your Value
When it comes to fashion journalism, there are a lot of different skills that can be valuable to a publication. If you have a niche skill, such as being able to speak multiple languages or having an eye for detail when it comes to photography, be sure to highlight that when negotiating your salary. Knowing your worth will help you get the salary you deserve.
3. Talk to Recruiters
If you’re looking for a raise, it can’t hurt to chat with a recruiter about the current state of the fashion industry and what kind of salaries are being offered for your position. They may have insights that you don’t, and can help you determine if you’re being underpaid.
Article Sources
1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “National Compensation Survey, https://www.bls.gov/ncs/.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273023.htm.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
3. Payscale. “Content Writer Salary, https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Content_Writer/Salary.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
4. Ziprecruiter. “Fashion Journalist Annual Salary, https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Fashion-Journalist-Salary.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
5. Indeed. “Indeed Salary Finder, https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
6. Salary.com. “Journalist Salary, https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/journalist-salary.” Accessed March 23, 2022.
7. Glassdoor. “Fashion and Music Journalist Salaries, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/fashion-journalist-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm.” Accessed March 23, 2022.