Technical Designer Career Profile, Salary, & Job Outlook
What does a Technical Designer do?
Technical designers work with designers to develop initial designs, tech packs, and technical garment specifications to determine proper fit and construction. They create and maintain specifications of tech packs, including detailed technical sketches, graded measurements, and construction details. Technical designers edit tech packs to communicate pattern changes and corrections to the factories. They are a primary point of contact for vendors and resolve questions regarding fit, specs, pattern, and construction.
How much does a Technical Designer make?
According to Glassdoor, Technical Designers make a national average of $70,546 or $33.92 an hour (as of March 2022). In general, entry-level technical designers make around $49,000 annually, with senior-level technical designers making $103,000 a year. Of course, this wide range also depends on skill, seniority, company, and location.
What impact does this career have towards the fashion industry?
Technical designers are the liaisons between the design and production teams. They take the sketched design concept and figure out how to make it into a tangible, physical product. The manufacturing process can only go smoothly if the technical designer has provided a detailed and clear tech pack.
What is the job outlook for a Technical Designer?
Global apparel revenue is forecasted to grow to $2.25 trillion by 2025. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for fashion designers (including Technical Designers) are expected to maintain steady growth during the 2020-2030 decade.
How to kick-off your career:
- Study tech packs.
- Learn about the manufacturing and product development process.
- Download The Ultimate Fashion Career Guide to learn more about career paths.
- Explore the Parsons x WWD Fashion Business Essentials online course.
Learn from:
Jeff Carvalho, Fashion Business Essentials contributor, Founder, Highsnobiety
Related Careers:
Creative Director | Fashion Illustrator | Apparel Designer | Fabric Researcher | Accessories Designer | Footwear Designer | Pattern Cutter/Grader | Director of Merchandising & Design | Trend Forecaster | Graphic Designer | Textile Designer | Textile Colorist | Fashion Designer | Knitwear Designer | Garment Technologist | Data Analyst
