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Fashion design and fashion merchandising are creative and hands-on professions that offer a great deal of flexibility.
As a fashion designer, you will use computers and sewing machines to create apparel patterns, prototypes, and samples. You will also use fabric pencils, scissors, and other tools to adjust patterns and construct test pieces.
As a fashion merchandiser, you will be responsible for market research and analysis, as well as sales and marketing. Fashion merchandisers also work with retail buyers to select merchandise for stores, and you will be responsible for displaying merchandise in a creative and appealing way.
Whether you work in fashion design or fashion merchandising, you'll need to be creative, flexible, and able to work well under pressure.
As a major clothing retail hub, the Chicago area offers numerous employment opportunities for fashion merchandisers and designers.
Get a list of top fashion design and merchandising job titles, and number of job postings for that position over the previous 12 months. (Souce: Lightcast, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI region, as of 11/27/2023)
List of top accounting job titles, and number of job postings for that position over the previous 12 months. (Souce: Lightcast, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI region, as of 11/16/2023)
Job Titles
# of Postings
Occupation Group
Retail Merchandisers
1917
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandisers
1210
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandise Associates
206
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Unclassified
185
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Visual Merchandisers
175
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Merchandising Specialists
161
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Merchandise Stockers
142
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Operations Associates
140
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Traveling Retail Merchandisers
132
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Garden Center Merchandisers
114
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Sales Merchandisers
114
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandise Stock Associates
100
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Store Merchandisers
92
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Merchandising Supervisors
91
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Flex Managers
79
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandise Managers
77
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Sales Merchandisers
71
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandising Analysts
69
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandising Service Associates
68
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Logistics Associates
60
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Merchandisers Representative
55
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Sales and Merchandising Associates
52
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Retail Merchandising Managers
51
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandising Specialists
50
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Web Merchandisers
50
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Design Directors
26
Fashion Designers
Directors of Design
13
Fashion Designers
Fashion Design Assistants
11
Fashion Designers
Fashion Advisors
10
Fashion Designers
Fashion Designers
10
Fashion Designers
Directors of User Experience
9
Fashion Designers
Costume Designers
8
Fashion Designers
Unclassified
7
Fashion Designers
Adjunct Faculties
6
Fashion Designers
Jewelry Designers
6
Fashion Designers
Boutique Specialists
5
Fashion Designers
Style Advisors
5
Fashion Designers
Womenswear Designers
5
Fashion Designers
Fitness Specialists
4
Fashion Designers
Market Makers
4
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Patternmakers
4
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Apparel Designers
3
Fashion Designers
Directors of Organizational Development
3
Fashion Designers
Organization Directors
3
Fashion Designers
UX Design Directors
3
Fashion Designers
Costume Directors
2
Fashion Designers
Heads of Design
2
Fashion Designers
Influencers
2
Fashion Designers
Innovation Design Directors
2
Fashion Designers
Luxury Sales Stylists
2
Fashion Designers
User Experience Designers
2
Fashion Designers
Clinical Solutions Specialists
1
Fashion Designers
Production Patternmakers
1
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Range Masters
1
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Unclassified
1
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Many of these jobs open to those with associate degrees or who have completed certificate programs.
Learn more about potential careers in the fashion industry, including average salaries, job growth and local employers.