7 of the Best Types of Textile Designer Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Textile Designer jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Textile Designer Jobs

• Freelance Textile Designer

  Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500

  There are no formal education requirements to start a career as a freelance textile designer, but many in the industry have degrees in fashion, art and design, surface design, or a related field. These educational programs teach the fundamental principles of textile design, including how to determine the weight and durability of a material and the best uses of a fabric. They also provide courses on experimenting with color and patterns on a variety of mediums. Another path into this career starts with an apprenticeship with a veteran textile designer to gain hands-on experience in the trade. Practice developing color palettes, repeats, and indexing. Research evolving textile trends and techniques. Master line sketching and textile CAD software programs, such as Pro-Wave, 3D Mapping, and Photoshop, to enable you to create client presentations. Some beginning textile designers also update artwork to cultivate their skills in colors and detail work. You may acquire an entry-level position with a textile design firm to build your design portfolio. Once you are confident in your qualifications, network with professional textile organizations, such as the Art & Design of Textiles and The American Textile Institute, create a website, and utilize social media to find clients.

• Senior Textile Designer

  Salary range: $102,000 - $109,000

  Senior Textile Designer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Senior Textile Designer jobs pay between $102,000 (25th percentile) and $109,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Senior Textile Designer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Entry Level Textile Designer

  Salary range: $48,000 - $92,500

  Entry-level jobs are positions that do not require any previous experience in the role. Most entry-level jobs are aimed at high school or college graduates as a starting point for a future career goal. A college student may have majored in their ideal career field, but will still need to start in an entry-level position to train in a real-world environment. Some students move from internships into entry-level jobs, but most entry-level jobs do not expect a candidate to have any prior employment or on-site training.

• Manager Textile Designer

  Salary range: $48,000 - $92,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• On Call Textile Designer

  Salary range: $48,000 - $92,500

  When most people think of on-call jobs, medical professionals and first responders typically come to mind. For first responders, like firefighters and EMTs, on-call usually means you are sleeping at the station, ready to wake up and respond to a call quickly. Medical workers, on the other hand, may work a more traditional on-call schedule. While some nurses and doctors may sleep at the hospital, especially during their residency, you may also have an on-call shift where you can leave and go home, potentially never actually coming back. If you want a career as a nurse or doctor but do not like this unpredictability, rest assured that the chance of having on-call shifts decreases as you gain seniority and advanced qualifications. Repair workers like electricians may also work on-call. You may occasionally find on-call jobs in retail or customer service sectors, but this is not as common.

• Junior Textile Designer

  Salary range: $45,500 - $65,500

  Junior Textile Designer is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Junior Textile Designer jobs pay between $45,500 (25th percentile) and $65,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Textile Designer job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Internship Textile Designer

  Salary range: $30,000 - $40,000

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.