U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2007

Fashion Designers
Design clothing and accessories. Create original garments or design garments that follow well established fashion trends. May develop the line of color and kinds of materials.

Number in U.S.: 16,460
Mean Hourly Wage: $34.22
Mean Annual Wage: $71,170

Top Employment Industries: Apparel and piece goods merchant wholesalers, Cut and sew apparel manufacturing, Management of companies and enterprises, Specialized design services, Clothing stores.

Top Paying Industries: Other textile product mills ($85,330), Specialized design services ($85,110), Management of companies and enterprises ($76,410), Cut and sew apparel manufacturing ($76,220), and Footwear manufacturing ($73,610).

States with highest pay: Connecticut, New York, California, Maine, Wisconsin.

Source: http://www.bls.gov/