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Shoe Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials.The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. #J-18808 ...

At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion-dollar digital ...

About Designer Brands At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion ...

Sr. Footwear Designer

Rockaway Beach, OR · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear design, market ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

Sr. Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear design, market ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

$160K - $190K/yr

ABOUT THE ROLE The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

Sr. Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$160K - $190K/yr

The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear design, market ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

$160K - $190K/yr

The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear design, market ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

The Sr. Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of footwear design, market ... Knowledge of shoe construction and materials. * Must be versatile and be able to switch gears ...

Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials. The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. About ...

Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials.The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD.**About ...

Footwear Designer

Rockaway Beach, OR · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials. The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. About ...

Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials. The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. About ...

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials. The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. About ...

$130K - $150K/yr

Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials. The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. About ...

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Shoe Designer information

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How much do shoe designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for shoe designer in the United States is $22.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $24.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a shoe designer?

A shoe designer works in the fashion industry designing footwear. Job duties include developing shoe concepts, creating prototypes, and testing designs. Shoe designs are typically created as hand drawings first; however, some designers may use computer software. Shoe designers who work for a larger company must present their ideas to management for approval.

What does a shoe designer do?

A shoe designer is responsible for creating the concepts, sketches, and prototypes for new footwear designs. They research trends, select materials, and work closely with manufacturers to bring their ideas to life. Shoe designers combine creativity with technical knowledge to make shoes that are both stylish and functional. Their work involves understanding both fashion aesthetics and the practical needs of different types of footwear.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a shoe designer, and why are they important?

A successful Shoe Designer needs a solid background in fashion design, strong drawing skills, and a portfolio demonstrating creativity and technical proficiency, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Illustrator, CAD tools, and knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes is important. Creativity, attention to detail, and trend awareness are essential soft skills that help designers innovate and meet consumer demands. These skills and qualities are crucial for creating appealing, functional footwear that stands out in a competitive market.

What are some common challenges faced by shoe designers during the product development process?

Shoe designers often encounter challenges balancing creativity with functionality, such as ensuring their designs are both visually appealing and comfortable to wear. Additionally, working within material and manufacturing constraints while keeping up with rapidly changing fashion trends can be demanding. Collaboration with production teams, marketers, and suppliers is crucial to address technical limitations and cost considerations, making effective communication an essential skill. These challenges make the role dynamic and rewarding for those who enjoy problem-solving and teamwork.

What is the difference between Shoe Designer vs Footwear Product Developer?

AspectShoe DesignerFootwear Product Developer
Primary RoleCreates the initial shoe design, focusing on aesthetics and style.Translates designs into manufacturable products, focusing on construction and functionality.
Skills & CredentialsDesign skills, fashion sense, CAD proficiency, portfolioProduct development, materials knowledge, technical skills, engineering background
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, fashion houses, footwear brandsManufacturing facilities, R&D labs, footwear companies
Industry UsageUsed in fashion and design contextsUsed in production and engineering contexts

While Shoe Designers focus on creating the visual and aesthetic aspects of footwear, Footwear Product Developers work on turning those designs into practical, manufacturable products. Both roles are essential in the footwear industry but differ in their core responsibilities and skill sets.

How much do shoe designers make?

Shoe designers typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, with experienced professionals or those working for major brands earning higher salaries. Compensation can vary based on experience, location, and the complexity of the designs, and many shoe designers also work in creative environments that value portfolio quality and technical skills such as CAD software.

What cities are hiring for Shoe Designer jobs?

Cities with the most Shoe Designer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Shoe Designer jobs?

The most popular types of Shoe Designer jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Shoe Designer jobs?

The top employers for Shoe Designer jobs are:

What states have the most Shoe Designer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Shoe Designer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Shoe Designer jobs?

For Shoe Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Shoe Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,895 per year, or $22.1 per hour.

Footwear Designer

Manhattan Beach, CA • On-site

Skechers USA Ltd.
Retail • 10K+ employees

$130K - $150K/yr

Other

Posted 13 days ago


Skechers rating

6.5

Company rating: 6.5 out of 10

Based on 177 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

## Footwear DesignerApplylocations: Manhattan Beach, CAtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: JR130573WHO WE ARE: Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand. ABOUT THE ROLE: The Footwear Designer will integrate their thorough understanding of fashion trends, market conditions, consumer expectations, technologies and the manufacturing process with their design excellence to develop the next generations of SKECHERS USA footwear products. They will influence the respective categories and cultural events knowledge and experience relating to how the current and upcoming fashion trends might influence the consumers’ buying decisions, covering a vast demographic and multi-cultural area. In addition, they'll use their knowledge in respect to design, development and market relevance to collaborate with marketing and sales personnel on projects to maximize effectiveness and sale-ability.WHAT YOU'LL DO:* Create innovative and affordable footwear design concepts.* Work with design management, development and marketing personnel to collaborate on design projects to maximize effectiveness and build product to target cost.* Understanding of fashion trends and directions through travel, shop the markets, tradeshows and researching the competition.* Create accurate cads quickly and efficiently.* Build and present seasonal product strategies and trend boards.* Understands how to create accurate tech packs for outsole and upper designs.* Understands how to draw cross sections and read blueprints accurately.* Constant interaction with merchandisers on all aspects of product line plans, briefs, color palette, pricing, themes, graphics, and strategies.* Work with developers in US and Asia on line schedules, adhere to the product calendar, ensuring development projects are on track.* Working with developers / materials team to coordinate and develop new materials, constructions, processes and procedures.* Responsible for getting prototypes and samples executed to reflect the concept and design you created.* Knowledge and understanding of competitors top sellers, technologies, styling, colors, strategies and pricing.* Innovation through fashion forward new designs and technologies* Protect and enhance SKECHERS “DNA”.* Periodic travel to Asia to follow-up on development projects.WHAT YOU'LL BRING:* Ability to sketch shoes accurately and proportionately & provide detailed specifications.* Must understand the footwear production process at the factory level.* Must have advanced skills in Photoshop/Illustrator and 3-D design programs.* Must have great communication/presentation skills and work well with others.REQUIREMENTS:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.* Bachelor’s Degree in Footwear Design, Fashion Design, or Graphic Design.* Should have a minimum of 4-6 years of progressive, shoe designing experience and knowledge of shoe constructions and materials.The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD. #J-18808-Ljbffr

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