What is the average Fashion Designer salary for Santa Cruz, CA?
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As of July 01, 2026, the average Fashion Designer salary in Santa Cruz, CA is $256,684. The chart below represents localized salaries for some of our most popular Fashion Designer job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Salaries can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, including position, location, years of experience, and level of education. Salary.com’s team of Certified Compensation Professionals analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to compile a range of salaries for various Fashion Designer job titles in Santa Cruz, CA. Apply your personal criteria to one of the job titles below to get your personalized salary estimate.
Fashion Designer Salaries in Santa Cruz, CA
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Fashion Designer I | $70,674 | $33.98 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Fashion Designer III | $113,699 | $54.66 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Fashion Designer IV | $148,580 | $71.43 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Fashion Designer II | $88,070 | $42.34 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Package Designer II | $93,439 | $44.92 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| VP of Fashion Design | $273,695 | $131.58 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Manager of Fashion Design | $154,638 | $74.35 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| SVP of Fashion Design | $379,494 | $182.45 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Director of Fashion Design | $229,891 | $110.52 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
| Industrial Designer I | $81,110 | $39.00 | Santa Cruz, CA | July 01, 2026 |
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Responsible for executing the fashion design strategy for an organization. Creates and manages multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product and ensures projects are aligned with the brand's identity. Presents design concepts and ideas to internal stakeholders. Effectively communicates design details to the product development and production teams. Determines final style, material, and color based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing teams. Ensures fashion designs meet high-quality standards and adhere to approved guidelines. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Fashion Designer I Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Apparel Designer I, Fashion Designer Entry, Fashion Designer I
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Responsible for executing the fashion design strategy for an organization. Creates and manages multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product and ensures projects are aligned with the brand's identity. Presents design concepts and ideas to internal stakeholders. Effectively communicates design details to the product development and production teams. Determines final style, material, and color based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing teams. Ensures fashion designs meet high-quality standards and adhere to approved guidelines. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Fashion Designer III Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Apparel Designer III, Fashion Designer Senior, Fashion Designer III
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Responsible for executing the fashion design strategy for an organization. Creates and manages multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product and ensures projects are aligned with the brand's identity. Presents design concepts and ideas to internal stakeholders. Effectively communicates design details to the product development and production teams. Determines final style, material, and color based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing teams. Ensures fashion designs meet high-quality standards and adhere to approved guidelines. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. Fashion Designer IV Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Apparel Designer IV, Fashion Designer Lead, Fashion Designer IV
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Responsible for executing the fashion design strategy for an organization. Creates and manages multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product and ensures projects are aligned with the brand's identity. Presents design concepts and ideas to internal stakeholders. Effectively communicates design details to the product development and production teams. Determines final style, material, and color based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing teams. Ensures fashion designs meet high-quality standards and adhere to approved guidelines. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Fashion Designer II Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Apparel Designer II, Fashion Designer Intermediate, Fashion Designer II
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Designs and creates packaging artwork for an organization. Utilizes graphic arts design techniques and software tools to create compelling package designs that reflect the organization's branding and marketing objectives. Incorporates industry practices, branding standards, and any regulatory requirements into package designs. Collaborates with production, marketing, vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver designs that meet all requirements and adhere to the budget. May require a bachelor's degree in industrial design, art, graphic design or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Package Designer II Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Package Art Designer II, Packaging Graphics Designer II, Package Designer II
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Leads and directs the fashion design strategy for an organization. Ensures consistent brand management across the organization. Develops and implements policies and standards that reinforce the organization's fashion design strategy. Promotes excellence in design thinking and creative strategy for products. Conducts market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Stays current on future trends. Maintains expert knowledge in design and production techniques, and researches new design technologies. Mentors and develops a team of fashion designers. Requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to senior/top management. Manages a departmental function within a broader corporate function. Develops major goals to support broad functional objectives. Approves policies developed within various sub-functions and departments. Typically requires 8+ years of managerial experience. Comprehensive knowledge of the overall departmental function. VP of Fashion Design Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Vice President of Apparel, Vice President of Fashion Design and Merchandising, VP of Fashion DesignCategories : Retail/Wholesale , Executive and Management , Manufacturing , Personal Care and Service
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Manages a team of fashion designers that executes the fashion design strategy for an organization. Leads, manages, and drives multiple fashion design projects from conceptualization to finished product. Manages the planning, implementation, and analysis of fashion design campaigns, and ensures campaigns are aligned with established branding guidelines. Reviews and approves final style, material, and color directions based on input from sales/marketing, merchandising, development, and manufacturing staff. Keeps abreast of consumer needs and trends. Requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes. Manager of Fashion Design Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Manager of Apparel, Manager of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Manager of Fashion Design
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Provides leadership, innovation, and oversight of the fashion design strategy for an organization. Ensures consistent brand management across the organization. Develops and implements policies and standards that reinforce the organization's fashion design strategy. Promotes excellence in design thinking and creative strategy for products. Conducts market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Stays current on future trends. Maintains expert knowledge in design and production techniques, and researches new design technologies. Mentors and develops a team of fashion designers. Requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to top management. Manages a business unit, division, or corporate function with major organizational impact. Establishes/implements overall direction and strategic initiatives for the given major function or line of business. Typically requires 10+ years of progressive leadership experience. Has extensive knowledge of the overall departmental function. SVP of Fashion Design Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:SVP of Apparel, SVP of Fashion Design and Merchandising, SVP of Fashion DesignCategories : Retail/Wholesale , Executive and Management , Manufacturing , Personal Care and Service
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Leads the implementation of the fashion design strategy for an organization. Ensures consistent brand management across the organization. Oversees the planning, implementation, and analysis of fashion design campaigns, and ensures campaigns are aligned with established branding guidelines. Promotes excellence in design thinking and creative strategy for products. Conducts market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Stays current on future trends and maintains expert knowledge in design and production techniques. Mentors and develops a team of fashion designers. Requires a bachelor's degree in apparel/fashion design or related field. Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function. Director of Fashion Design Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Director of Apparel, Director of Fashion Design and Merchandising, Director of Fashion Design
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Designs and develops industrial product concepts and specifications that reflect aesthetic, functional, and manufacturing requirements. Researches and analyzes the intended use of products and user preferences. Translates user insights and market requirements into sketches, prototypes, and CAD models to visually communicate the design concept. Collaborates with stakeholders like engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and suppliers to produce final designs that meet safety, manufacturability, timeline, and cost constraints. Experienced in using a variety of 3D/2D CAD rendering, prototyping, and animation tools. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in industrial or product design. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Industrial Designer I Salaries in Santa Cruz, CAAlternate Job Titles:Entry Industrial Product Design, Junior Industrial Designer, Industrial Designer I