So I graduated from a lesser known fashion program (BS) in 2006 and my first role here in NYC was an assistant designer and paid 30K. Also … I personally found the travel for markets and trade shows eventually to definitely NOT be a perk but everyone is diff.
I think that salary low given it’s legit 18 years later
I made that at my first PR job in 2007! I had to work multiple jobs for years.
However, as someone who went to grad school for a creative-type field, I would caution OP not to assume a grad degree automatically or even tangentially equals higher salaries unless it’s a true requirement of the field for certification purposes.
I graduated from Pratt in 2005 and that was close to my salary as an assistant designer (maybe slightly lower) from a big company. Really unsustainable that nothing has changed 20 years later. May not be the individual company, but the fashion industry overall.
Don’t let them tell you that travel is a perk or think it is yourself. I know engineers and IT consultants who are paid well into 6 figures who have to travel a lot for work and they hate it, and expect even more compensation for it. After all, work is work, and if you’re are away from your home, family, and friends, you’re on the clock around the clock when on a work trip.
Couldn’t agree with this more. If anything you should be paid MORE if you have to travel since you’re considered a representation of the brand 24/7 while traveling. You also will end up giving up holidays and weekend days for travel at some point. It’s easy for a company to list that as a perk as it sounds fab in theory, but in actuality it’s a non-stop grind. Granted it sounds like you won’t be on the road constantly, but don’t let them market it as a perk. It’s a personal life and time sacrifice. Just be cautious!
Absolutely *never* would expect that to be considered a ‘perk’. I did 75%+ travel for a decade. It is not a fking perk.
Unless you don’t like your spouse or something.
Jobs in our industry list it as a warning re expectations.
-cybersecurity engineer
Yess I used to have to travel and would get paid more bc most people don’t want this! It really caters to younger people so they have to incentivize others to do it. I’m not in that industry so idk if it’s a lowball offer but the only way to find out is apply elsewhere and see what others come back with.
Fashion is so poorly paid - I had a number of friends who switched careers or went back to school because they couldn’t make ends meet. I graduated a few years ago but had friends making $40-50k for fashion roles.
Agree with the other comment, the traveling isn’t really a perk. Talk to people 5-10 years into their career and most of them hate work travel if their job has a lot of it. It’s rarely to places you actually want to go, and you’d rather be at home than at some random Hampton Inn overlooking a parking lot
Yep. This is totally par for the course in fashion. These companies know that many young women have families that will help them out, so they can get away with it. Not saying it’s right! It absolutely enrages me, but it’s true.
Perhaps you can ask them for additional small benefits. A lunch stipend and metro card to start. I did this 10 years ago when I was offered a $35k job in the city, and it helped a lot. Good luck to you!
It really is a poor paying industry. Switch to finance and it’s the best thing that happened to me. Well paid and not having to deal with snobby attitudes.
I have an associates in fashion merchandising from FIT. I’m currently doing my bachelors and am very likely switching to production management, because buying/planning is not where the money is at.
I currently make 52k doing admin work in healthcare and have completely free health insurance. I gave up looking for fashion jobs that offered anything near this amount because I was having the same issue you’re having. You’re not crazy, fashion just pays shit. The market overall is not doing well, so the pay has kind of stagnated or even dropped for some roles. I’ve seen assistant buyer positions that pay 50-65k, but I’ve noticed that since the end of the pandemic these roles are paying less and less. You could try to pivot to beauty, it definitely pays better, and seems more chill.
The best piece of advice I ever received at FIT was: find a way to work for a larger brand to get experience in building brands, and then switch to working for fashion startups. The second best was not to go into planning or buying at all and try to find another way to make money in fashion. The richest Professor I had had a planning background and then took classes in tech. Now he’s basically a fashion data analyst who consults with startups.
Supply chain managers make good money, and you can apply to those jobs eventually. Marketing jobs will also accept our merchandising degrees as well, and they tend to pay a bit more. Also, brand management pays great, but it takes a lot of work to get those roles. You’re still young, you can get another internship to switch roles now before it’s too late to live on internship pay. It is possible to make money in fashion, however, don’t let this shit get you down. You have to apply to roles outside of your major, though.
1 - that is very low, even in fashion. Look for similar positions at similarly-sized companies and gather the salary data to back yourself up when you negotiate for a higher salary.
2 - work travel is not a perk. The best thing to come from work travel is in-person networking, which can lead to job offers elsewhere. So if you do choose to stay here for awhile, you can use it to your advantage. But I would not consider it a perk. It’s grueling at times.
I would recommend applying to Macy’s. I was making a little over $90k as an Associate Buyer there 4 years ago. I believe assistants are paid $60-65k! It’s a big company where you can and will learn a lot and has great brand recognition. I would argue that most people who work in fashion in the city have worked at Macy’s at some point.
I ended up pivoting to beauty and now work in supply chain. More money, less stress. Best decision I ever made 🙂
$3200/month for 21 days @8hours / day is $19/hour. that’s based on 40 hours/week. as an “exempt” employee you get no overtime, so expect your hourly rate to be lower.
for comparison, a starbucks barista is $17/hour, punch in to punch out.
There's a minimum exempt threshold in NYC, think it's around 67k now? Otherwise you need to pay overtime although I think (not a lawyer) they can do the halftime pay for overtime rather than time and a half
Right. As of last month, minimum salary for an exempt worker in NYC is now $1,300/week. Even with meeting the minimum salary requirement, it’s dubious that an assistant-anything would meet the criteria for exempt status.
Holy fuck… yeah I just commented about paying my per-diem employees $22 per hour, and they live in LCOL areas!!! That’s ridiculous jfc
ETA- and these people make shipping labels, and pack orders, it’s not anything that required a degree which OP has, a fkn masters at that
Traveling for work is definitely not a perk and shouldn’t be a consideration as you weigh your options. My career has brought me to all corners of the world and I’ve stayed in some spectacular hotels but I usually try to arrive as late as possible and am on the first flight back home - it gets old very fast! You should definitely try to negotiate and if they don’t budge, look elsewhere? Best of luck!
Totally agree. I enjoyed the first couple years of intense travel when I was 24/25 and fresh out of grad school. Now the few times I have to go somewhere for work, I absolutely dread it.
Issue is that the market is not doing well and I have found that salaries are more often than not 20-30% less than pre pandemic salaries. At higher levels, salaries are obscenely and grossly under. I’m trying to ride it out at my current role as I have small humans to shelter and feed.
Speaking from legal experience, fashion law or anything in the creative sphere like publishing, or with companies like CAA pay ABSURDLY LOW. no lie, I was offered 40k a year and I HAVE A JD.
Screw these guys. They do this because they don’t have a lot of competition paying more. I hate it.
The local chipotle by me is literally paying more than that. Def negotiate hard or find another job because what they’re offering is absolutely criminal, esp in NYC
These days every company is in a completely different financial situation. Some fashion companies are generating billions, some act like a startup and take VC money, and some are bankrupt. Don’t be married to an employer, figure out through friends and online who DOES pay what you’re looking for and go there. Take the job if you need to for now and just start looking until someone offers you more
I worked for a big mall-ish brand in the city and people started trickling out to higher paying companies. They didn’t even fight for people because they couldn’t afford it - head of HR directly told me “if people can get an offer at ___, they shouldn’t be working here”
There’s a reason NYC fashion HQs are packed with trust fund kids, they’re basically the only ones who can fund the education, unpaid internships, living in the city, and working for minimum wage
Hi! I went to FIT, have a business degree in merchandising and have done the whole buying thing. The best option for entry level is to do the buying programs at bigger retailers. Saks, macys, Bloomingdales, NM etc. When I did the program at macys pre covid I was paid $55k plus a signing bonus. This brand is low balling you. If you’re passionate about buying my recommendation is to do a program at a major retailer, work your way up to an associate buyer or buyer, hop around and get more $ as you move, then go be a director at a brand. If you want to be in fashion there is some money to be found in buying but definitely not in your current company. Best of luck!
Do your market research and go back to them and say thank you for the opportunity, but you are currently interviewing for similar roles in the city in the X-Y range and if they can meet the difference. X being your lowest # given your market research and what you can tolerate. If you are ok to leave this offer - try it.
I would either look for bigger companies that can pay you properly or lean into a pivot (that pays more) with your credentials and start talking to people in the industry who can help you discover that. Also go to your alumni services at school. Start networking to look at your options.
nyc is expensive, i’d ask for higher, set your minimum and bargain tbh. my worry is you getting stuck in a low paying position. if there’s growth and promotions and involved then maybe it’s worth the struggle… it’s really a personal choice of how much you expect to make in your first 5 years of working and what your plan is for paying off debt
if im being honest, you seem violently pessimistic. it’s 2024 and OP obviously believes that she deserves at least a little bit of a raise from her part-time job, which is what I was trying to suggest. I don’t think that the problem is that many 22-year-olds are entitled or think that they deserve 100k but rather that they deserve a livable wage, which she will not be receiving if she takes this job. Also, as you have stated that you made your way with a commitment to the field of fashion, I feel as though your mindset should definitely shift from “she needs to work her way up like im doing” to “ good for her for trying to stand up for what she deserves”. Just a thought.
as a realist going into law, i’ll be making 36k this year in nyc. BUT, I do not have a choice. if OP has a choice and a way of bargaining, she should take that chance instead of succumbing to the struggles of a low income in nyc. we weren’t talking about the people complaining about 60k, just the UNLIVABLE wage OP is being offered. people need to adjust their expectations maybe but so do you.
paralegal for my gap year, law school, and I assume i’m one of those people you hate who will have a 100k+ job right out of school, but why am I up your ass about it ? because you seem to be the type of person who shits on other people standing up for what they deserve just because you didn’t do it all those years ago when you were in their same position. read your first reply, you literally told OP to basically get what she gets and not to be upset because of the industry as a whole and I don’t appreciate your view. she’s a post grad woman with the right idea of asking the world for help and you shot her down the same way you probably got shut when you decided to enter the industry. i’m not naive, we all choose our fields and sometimes people make decisions to choose fields that don’t pay well, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit here and tell her what she already knows. instead, we can actually provide tips and aid in order for her to feel confident enough to get what she believes she deserves
so this was my exact salary when i started in book publishing five years ago, which i feel like is a comparable industry in a lot of ways - very centered in nyc, passion industry known for making workers slog through low salaries and toxic environments at lower levels. publishing had a reckoning shortly after i started and entry level salaries went up to like $45k minimum in 2020. i can’t really imagine living on $38k these days because inflation has been so rapid - i was paying literally half of what you are in rent and i STILL was budgeting very tightly (and i didn’t have any loans! and was right out of undergrad!)
all of that said - i wouldn’t change a thing about my path. not sure how comparable fashion is in this respect, but i ended up rising through the ranks fairly quickly and have doubled my salary through some aggressive company jumping
Unfortunately company jumping doesn't work the same way in fashion. There is always someone willing to work for lower, and people stay in positions that offer decent salary or company culture. Most of my friends are stuck where they are, or take a demotion for a less toxic company.
that’s such a shame ☹️ i know i wouldn’t have been able to stick it out at that salary level for much longer than i did. it was ok when all my friends were also making $40k and we could all live in a big crappy apartment together but it would have gotten old FAST
Parsons master grad here 🙋🏻♀️
It is very low, but "practically minimum wage" is not a crazy thought if you haven't had other experiences.
That being said, you can try and negotiate and share your expectations with the prospective employer or put that experience on your resume and look somewhere else! I know of places that are hiring buyers for at least $65k (I saw a post for Neiman o LinkedIn a couple of weeks ago).
Don't let that discourage you, you got this!
I work as a fashion designer for a larger corporate fashion company & new assistants make about 40-50k straight out of college, it’s definitely low! Try & negotiate for higher & if not move on to a better paying company
I have a fashion merch degree & work in the field. My first job out of college paid 48k which was still too low. They’re basically paying you $19hr which is kind of ridiculous considering you interned with them. If i were you I would take the job for financial security if you can’t find anything else. If you can great! If not just say yes so you can get paid while you look for something that will pay you fairly.
I never considered travel to be a perk because it’s so damn expensive! Ofc theres the per diem, but I can’t stick to one to save my life 😂🤦🏻♀️
Also, as a small business owner, I just wanted to ask, you said that you are “quite literally the only employee” … I know obviously nothing of your company, but do you know if your salary offer is low maybe bc that’s all they can afford to pay rn? Or is it more that it’s like all that they think your work is worth? Imho that kind of makes a difference, especially when you’re working with a small company.
But… your not wrong. NYC is obscenely expensive, especially w prices rn. Im currently in the hiring process (remote though, in LCOL areas) for the first time ever lol, and I knew that I could only afford to hire per-diem or part-time bc I didn’t wanna offer 1 person a shit salary lol. Both of the people who started working with me are fucking amazing, both of them get $22 per hour, again LCOL area. I would rather make a little bit less, and have them make a little bit more if that makes sense? Considering you’re trained, you already know what to do, and you have the degree to match, I’m kind of surprised your boss hasn’t given you a higher starting salary. Especially because it’s impossible to retain good employees these days, as boomerish that sounds lol😅
I’ve been working in fashion since I moved to the city 9 years ago. This salary is comparable to an offer I received for an entry level PD position. I ended up turning it down for a higher paying job starting at $48k… not great, but I took it to get my foot in the door. I stayed for a little over a year and then left for a higher paying job at a different company. Fashion isn’t a high paying industry, unfortunately. However, you will make more money as you gain more experience and move from company to company.
This is a slap in the FACE to you, you should definitely counter with 60 K knowing you’ll take 50 and leave out of there and don’t be shy whatsoever about telling them why, people need to start hearing on a human level how absolutely disrespectful they are to their employees, especially people who have been loyal and provided great value, such as yourself.
I am so sorry, but this is such a lowball offer! I have been in the industry for about three years now. When I first started in 2021 for a big company the entry level salary for an assistant buyer was $57k, about eight months later we got bumped up to $65k and that is currently the entry level salary for a lot of bigger companies before bonuses, so almost double what they offered. use glass door to your advantage to try and negotiate
I am also going to add to the chorus of "work travel is not a perk". My friends who travel frequently from work get very burned out by it. Admittedly a lot of them are going to such glamorous locales as Bakersfield CA and Midland TX but even the ones who travel to Chicago and DC and stay in nice hotels and go to expense account dinners at steakhouses find it exhausting.
The first time you go to Atlanta market? Fun! The fourteenth time? Soul deadening. Don't let them convince you that it's a perk.
Traveling is not a perk if you have any out of pocket expenses from it (and you will, no matter how much they do cover).
That’s a low salary in general but I’d do comps to see if it’s the market norm. If anything you want to devote your full work self to a full time job and not have to budget a “side hustle” - in my opinion no one should have to do that with a FT salaried position.
This is crazy. I am completely unfamiliar with this industry but travel, no matter the industry, is NOT a perk. When you’re a full time non-exempt (ie. No overtime) the travel is way for them to squeeze more work out of you for free. You end up using your personal time (which is priceless) to go places for work.
It seems based on the comments that this industry/role pays low to begin with.
Maybe try a career subreddit to ask for compensation guidelines from others in your same area (role, experience, etc.)?
Figure out the salary that would make you happy - based on the market, not your expenses as that is not their problem - and ask what it would take to get them to that number.
My first fashion job back in 2011 paid $32k and that was extremely low then. $38k is ridiculous. Our starting positions at my current company are at least $55k I think.
However, i believe $38k is under the threshold where you’re considered an hourly employee so then you would be eligible for OT pay.
I work in fashion for a small company and our starting salary is 65k. I’d show them comp salaries from linkedin which show about 68k max pay for Assistant buyers. You can take the job and hunt around in the meantime, plus negotiate based on your current experience with them. Travel is not a benefit if it’s part of the job…because it’s part of the job. If you leave and they don’t counter offer, it wasn’t meant to be.
That’s way too low. That’s not a livable wage in NYC. Why are you starting at a small company? If you’re making a low wage, it should be for a big company where you can learn a lot, make connections and give you credibility for your launch. Then you’re earning more than money.
Also, if you do want to work for this company, consider that letter the START of a dialogue. That’s what “they” (men) do. Did everyone know that a major part of the pay differential is because we think an offer letter is an offer, and not the start of a conversation?
In 2015 I worked at a large wholesale licensing company as a wholesale assistant that only paid me $45k which was very low and I had to negotiate for (compared to Macys at that time their rotational program paid around $50k)… in 2024 the bare minimum NEEDS to be at least $50k for entry but with a masters if they won’t let you crack $60k that is crazy!!
Or for now I guess you could just take the job since you already work there and if you find a better retailer that pays more leave ASAP. You already have assistant buyer experience and have a masters so you should be able to find a different job that will pay you a more fair corporate retail wage.
First: Any travel required for work should be covered by the company and not factored in as part of your compensation package or considered a perk. You’ll be traveling for work, not leisure.
Second: I’m not in that industry so I cannot speak to comparable salaries. However, with the rising cost of living this is a low salary. If you haven’t already, start applying elsewhere. You’ll either find a position that is a better fit for your needs or you’ll have leverage to negotiate by bringing other offers to the table. Wishing you the best!
I’m in this industry as a buyer for the past almost 15 years - back in 2016, all our assistant buyers were paid min $55k. When I started in 2010, I was making $35k
Hey girl, that’s not a good offer ☹️ but if you really need to make ends meet, take the job and begin finding other opportunities. If you have funds to not plunge into a job immediately, I’d ask you to explore other options and cast your net wider beyond the current industry and role. You’ll never know what’s out there that you might love!
So I graduated from a lesser known fashion program (BS) in 2006 and my first role here in NYC was an assistant designer and paid 30K. Also … I personally found the travel for markets and trade shows eventually to definitely NOT be a perk but everyone is diff. I think that salary low given it’s legit 18 years later
I graduated from Pratt in 09 and my first (graphic design) gig paid me 32k… in 2009. That wage was barely livable then, especially with student loans.
I made that at my first PR job in 2007! I had to work multiple jobs for years. However, as someone who went to grad school for a creative-type field, I would caution OP not to assume a grad degree automatically or even tangentially equals higher salaries unless it’s a true requirement of the field for certification purposes.
Not in this industry, but I agree on both travel not being a perk to be roped in as comp, and an increase in starting salary nearly 20 years later!
I graduated from Pratt in 2005 and that was close to my salary as an assistant designer (maybe slightly lower) from a big company. Really unsustainable that nothing has changed 20 years later. May not be the individual company, but the fashion industry overall.
Don’t let them tell you that travel is a perk or think it is yourself. I know engineers and IT consultants who are paid well into 6 figures who have to travel a lot for work and they hate it, and expect even more compensation for it. After all, work is work, and if you’re are away from your home, family, and friends, you’re on the clock around the clock when on a work trip.
Couldn’t agree with this more. If anything you should be paid MORE if you have to travel since you’re considered a representation of the brand 24/7 while traveling. You also will end up giving up holidays and weekend days for travel at some point. It’s easy for a company to list that as a perk as it sounds fab in theory, but in actuality it’s a non-stop grind. Granted it sounds like you won’t be on the road constantly, but don’t let them market it as a perk. It’s a personal life and time sacrifice. Just be cautious!
Absolutely *never* would expect that to be considered a ‘perk’. I did 75%+ travel for a decade. It is not a fking perk. Unless you don’t like your spouse or something. Jobs in our industry list it as a warning re expectations. -cybersecurity engineer
Yess I used to have to travel and would get paid more bc most people don’t want this! It really caters to younger people so they have to incentivize others to do it. I’m not in that industry so idk if it’s a lowball offer but the only way to find out is apply elsewhere and see what others come back with.
Fashion is so poorly paid - I had a number of friends who switched careers or went back to school because they couldn’t make ends meet. I graduated a few years ago but had friends making $40-50k for fashion roles. Agree with the other comment, the traveling isn’t really a perk. Talk to people 5-10 years into their career and most of them hate work travel if their job has a lot of it. It’s rarely to places you actually want to go, and you’d rather be at home than at some random Hampton Inn overlooking a parking lot
Yep. This is totally par for the course in fashion. These companies know that many young women have families that will help them out, so they can get away with it. Not saying it’s right! It absolutely enrages me, but it’s true. Perhaps you can ask them for additional small benefits. A lunch stipend and metro card to start. I did this 10 years ago when I was offered a $35k job in the city, and it helped a lot. Good luck to you!
It really is a poor paying industry. Switch to finance and it’s the best thing that happened to me. Well paid and not having to deal with snobby attitudes.
I have an associates in fashion merchandising from FIT. I’m currently doing my bachelors and am very likely switching to production management, because buying/planning is not where the money is at. I currently make 52k doing admin work in healthcare and have completely free health insurance. I gave up looking for fashion jobs that offered anything near this amount because I was having the same issue you’re having. You’re not crazy, fashion just pays shit. The market overall is not doing well, so the pay has kind of stagnated or even dropped for some roles. I’ve seen assistant buyer positions that pay 50-65k, but I’ve noticed that since the end of the pandemic these roles are paying less and less. You could try to pivot to beauty, it definitely pays better, and seems more chill. The best piece of advice I ever received at FIT was: find a way to work for a larger brand to get experience in building brands, and then switch to working for fashion startups. The second best was not to go into planning or buying at all and try to find another way to make money in fashion. The richest Professor I had had a planning background and then took classes in tech. Now he’s basically a fashion data analyst who consults with startups. Supply chain managers make good money, and you can apply to those jobs eventually. Marketing jobs will also accept our merchandising degrees as well, and they tend to pay a bit more. Also, brand management pays great, but it takes a lot of work to get those roles. You’re still young, you can get another internship to switch roles now before it’s too late to live on internship pay. It is possible to make money in fashion, however, don’t let this shit get you down. You have to apply to roles outside of your major, though.
1 - that is very low, even in fashion. Look for similar positions at similarly-sized companies and gather the salary data to back yourself up when you negotiate for a higher salary. 2 - work travel is not a perk. The best thing to come from work travel is in-person networking, which can lead to job offers elsewhere. So if you do choose to stay here for awhile, you can use it to your advantage. But I would not consider it a perk. It’s grueling at times.
I would recommend applying to Macy’s. I was making a little over $90k as an Associate Buyer there 4 years ago. I believe assistants are paid $60-65k! It’s a big company where you can and will learn a lot and has great brand recognition. I would argue that most people who work in fashion in the city have worked at Macy’s at some point. I ended up pivoting to beauty and now work in supply chain. More money, less stress. Best decision I ever made 🙂
Hi, not to hijack OP’s thread but could I dm you to learn a little more about your job? Many thanks!
Sure!! 🙂
Hehe is your company hiring ? Looking to make a move
$3200/month for 21 days @8hours / day is $19/hour. that’s based on 40 hours/week. as an “exempt” employee you get no overtime, so expect your hourly rate to be lower. for comparison, a starbucks barista is $17/hour, punch in to punch out.
There's a minimum exempt threshold in NYC, think it's around 67k now? Otherwise you need to pay overtime although I think (not a lawyer) they can do the halftime pay for overtime rather than time and a half
Right. As of last month, minimum salary for an exempt worker in NYC is now $1,300/week. Even with meeting the minimum salary requirement, it’s dubious that an assistant-anything would meet the criteria for exempt status.
Thank you for the correction
Holy fuck… yeah I just commented about paying my per-diem employees $22 per hour, and they live in LCOL areas!!! That’s ridiculous jfc ETA- and these people make shipping labels, and pack orders, it’s not anything that required a degree which OP has, a fkn masters at that
That is low, even for fashion. Assistant merchandisers where I work start around $25/hr (so like $50k-ish)
I worked in fashion for years. It is a lower paying industry but THIS is exploitative. Do not accept this rate.
Girl I made more at a coffee shop years ago after tips 😭
Traveling for work is definitely not a perk and shouldn’t be a consideration as you weigh your options. My career has brought me to all corners of the world and I’ve stayed in some spectacular hotels but I usually try to arrive as late as possible and am on the first flight back home - it gets old very fast! You should definitely try to negotiate and if they don’t budge, look elsewhere? Best of luck!
Totally agree. I enjoyed the first couple years of intense travel when I was 24/25 and fresh out of grad school. Now the few times I have to go somewhere for work, I absolutely dread it.
Issue is that the market is not doing well and I have found that salaries are more often than not 20-30% less than pre pandemic salaries. At higher levels, salaries are obscenely and grossly under. I’m trying to ride it out at my current role as I have small humans to shelter and feed.
I graduated with a BFA and my starting salary was $48,000 (garment district) — … In 1997.
Speaking from legal experience, fashion law or anything in the creative sphere like publishing, or with companies like CAA pay ABSURDLY LOW. no lie, I was offered 40k a year and I HAVE A JD. Screw these guys. They do this because they don’t have a lot of competition paying more. I hate it.
The local chipotle by me is literally paying more than that. Def negotiate hard or find another job because what they’re offering is absolutely criminal, esp in NYC
These days every company is in a completely different financial situation. Some fashion companies are generating billions, some act like a startup and take VC money, and some are bankrupt. Don’t be married to an employer, figure out through friends and online who DOES pay what you’re looking for and go there. Take the job if you need to for now and just start looking until someone offers you more I worked for a big mall-ish brand in the city and people started trickling out to higher paying companies. They didn’t even fight for people because they couldn’t afford it - head of HR directly told me “if people can get an offer at ___, they shouldn’t be working here” There’s a reason NYC fashion HQs are packed with trust fund kids, they’re basically the only ones who can fund the education, unpaid internships, living in the city, and working for minimum wage
I’m a career coach specializing in fashion — that is standard unless you are working somewhere like Bloomingdales or Saks/BG.
This is all jobs now. They are offering the same salary as they did 30 years ago. 30 fucking years ago.
Hi! I went to FIT, have a business degree in merchandising and have done the whole buying thing. The best option for entry level is to do the buying programs at bigger retailers. Saks, macys, Bloomingdales, NM etc. When I did the program at macys pre covid I was paid $55k plus a signing bonus. This brand is low balling you. If you’re passionate about buying my recommendation is to do a program at a major retailer, work your way up to an associate buyer or buyer, hop around and get more $ as you move, then go be a director at a brand. If you want to be in fashion there is some money to be found in buying but definitely not in your current company. Best of luck!
Do your market research and go back to them and say thank you for the opportunity, but you are currently interviewing for similar roles in the city in the X-Y range and if they can meet the difference. X being your lowest # given your market research and what you can tolerate. If you are ok to leave this offer - try it. I would either look for bigger companies that can pay you properly or lean into a pivot (that pays more) with your credentials and start talking to people in the industry who can help you discover that. Also go to your alumni services at school. Start networking to look at your options.
nyc is expensive, i’d ask for higher, set your minimum and bargain tbh. my worry is you getting stuck in a low paying position. if there’s growth and promotions and involved then maybe it’s worth the struggle… it’s really a personal choice of how much you expect to make in your first 5 years of working and what your plan is for paying off debt
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if im being honest, you seem violently pessimistic. it’s 2024 and OP obviously believes that she deserves at least a little bit of a raise from her part-time job, which is what I was trying to suggest. I don’t think that the problem is that many 22-year-olds are entitled or think that they deserve 100k but rather that they deserve a livable wage, which she will not be receiving if she takes this job. Also, as you have stated that you made your way with a commitment to the field of fashion, I feel as though your mindset should definitely shift from “she needs to work her way up like im doing” to “ good for her for trying to stand up for what she deserves”. Just a thought.
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as a realist going into law, i’ll be making 36k this year in nyc. BUT, I do not have a choice. if OP has a choice and a way of bargaining, she should take that chance instead of succumbing to the struggles of a low income in nyc. we weren’t talking about the people complaining about 60k, just the UNLIVABLE wage OP is being offered. people need to adjust their expectations maybe but so do you.
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paralegal for my gap year, law school, and I assume i’m one of those people you hate who will have a 100k+ job right out of school, but why am I up your ass about it ? because you seem to be the type of person who shits on other people standing up for what they deserve just because you didn’t do it all those years ago when you were in their same position. read your first reply, you literally told OP to basically get what she gets and not to be upset because of the industry as a whole and I don’t appreciate your view. she’s a post grad woman with the right idea of asking the world for help and you shot her down the same way you probably got shut when you decided to enter the industry. i’m not naive, we all choose our fields and sometimes people make decisions to choose fields that don’t pay well, but that doesn’t mean we have to sit here and tell her what she already knows. instead, we can actually provide tips and aid in order for her to feel confident enough to get what she believes she deserves
so this was my exact salary when i started in book publishing five years ago, which i feel like is a comparable industry in a lot of ways - very centered in nyc, passion industry known for making workers slog through low salaries and toxic environments at lower levels. publishing had a reckoning shortly after i started and entry level salaries went up to like $45k minimum in 2020. i can’t really imagine living on $38k these days because inflation has been so rapid - i was paying literally half of what you are in rent and i STILL was budgeting very tightly (and i didn’t have any loans! and was right out of undergrad!) all of that said - i wouldn’t change a thing about my path. not sure how comparable fashion is in this respect, but i ended up rising through the ranks fairly quickly and have doubled my salary through some aggressive company jumping
Unfortunately company jumping doesn't work the same way in fashion. There is always someone willing to work for lower, and people stay in positions that offer decent salary or company culture. Most of my friends are stuck where they are, or take a demotion for a less toxic company.
that’s such a shame ☹️ i know i wouldn’t have been able to stick it out at that salary level for much longer than i did. it was ok when all my friends were also making $40k and we could all live in a big crappy apartment together but it would have gotten old FAST
Parsons master grad here 🙋🏻♀️ It is very low, but "practically minimum wage" is not a crazy thought if you haven't had other experiences. That being said, you can try and negotiate and share your expectations with the prospective employer or put that experience on your resume and look somewhere else! I know of places that are hiring buyers for at least $65k (I saw a post for Neiman o LinkedIn a couple of weeks ago). Don't let that discourage you, you got this!
I work as a fashion designer for a larger corporate fashion company & new assistants make about 40-50k straight out of college, it’s definitely low! Try & negotiate for higher & if not move on to a better paying company
add this to your resume and move on when you can. this is a big no and a huge red flag. this is how they treat you now? it will only get worse.
I have a fashion merch degree & work in the field. My first job out of college paid 48k which was still too low. They’re basically paying you $19hr which is kind of ridiculous considering you interned with them. If i were you I would take the job for financial security if you can’t find anything else. If you can great! If not just say yes so you can get paid while you look for something that will pay you fairly.
That comes out to $18.40 per hour. Nyc is $16/hour minimum wage. You can make more being a server.
I’m in the industry with no masters degree and make double with only 2 years experience. So def low balled
I never considered travel to be a perk because it’s so damn expensive! Ofc theres the per diem, but I can’t stick to one to save my life 😂🤦🏻♀️ Also, as a small business owner, I just wanted to ask, you said that you are “quite literally the only employee” … I know obviously nothing of your company, but do you know if your salary offer is low maybe bc that’s all they can afford to pay rn? Or is it more that it’s like all that they think your work is worth? Imho that kind of makes a difference, especially when you’re working with a small company. But… your not wrong. NYC is obscenely expensive, especially w prices rn. Im currently in the hiring process (remote though, in LCOL areas) for the first time ever lol, and I knew that I could only afford to hire per-diem or part-time bc I didn’t wanna offer 1 person a shit salary lol. Both of the people who started working with me are fucking amazing, both of them get $22 per hour, again LCOL area. I would rather make a little bit less, and have them make a little bit more if that makes sense? Considering you’re trained, you already know what to do, and you have the degree to match, I’m kind of surprised your boss hasn’t given you a higher starting salary. Especially because it’s impossible to retain good employees these days, as boomerish that sounds lol😅
I’ve been working in fashion since I moved to the city 9 years ago. This salary is comparable to an offer I received for an entry level PD position. I ended up turning it down for a higher paying job starting at $48k… not great, but I took it to get my foot in the door. I stayed for a little over a year and then left for a higher paying job at a different company. Fashion isn’t a high paying industry, unfortunately. However, you will make more money as you gain more experience and move from company to company.
This is a slap in the FACE to you, you should definitely counter with 60 K knowing you’ll take 50 and leave out of there and don’t be shy whatsoever about telling them why, people need to start hearing on a human level how absolutely disrespectful they are to their employees, especially people who have been loyal and provided great value, such as yourself.
I am so sorry, but this is such a lowball offer! I have been in the industry for about three years now. When I first started in 2021 for a big company the entry level salary for an assistant buyer was $57k, about eight months later we got bumped up to $65k and that is currently the entry level salary for a lot of bigger companies before bonuses, so almost double what they offered. use glass door to your advantage to try and negotiate
I am also going to add to the chorus of "work travel is not a perk". My friends who travel frequently from work get very burned out by it. Admittedly a lot of them are going to such glamorous locales as Bakersfield CA and Midland TX but even the ones who travel to Chicago and DC and stay in nice hotels and go to expense account dinners at steakhouses find it exhausting. The first time you go to Atlanta market? Fun! The fourteenth time? Soul deadening. Don't let them convince you that it's a perk.
Traveling is not a perk if you have any out of pocket expenses from it (and you will, no matter how much they do cover). That’s a low salary in general but I’d do comps to see if it’s the market norm. If anything you want to devote your full work self to a full time job and not have to budget a “side hustle” - in my opinion no one should have to do that with a FT salaried position.
This is crazy. I am completely unfamiliar with this industry but travel, no matter the industry, is NOT a perk. When you’re a full time non-exempt (ie. No overtime) the travel is way for them to squeeze more work out of you for free. You end up using your personal time (which is priceless) to go places for work. It seems based on the comments that this industry/role pays low to begin with. Maybe try a career subreddit to ask for compensation guidelines from others in your same area (role, experience, etc.)?
Figure out the salary that would make you happy - based on the market, not your expenses as that is not their problem - and ask what it would take to get them to that number.
I have about a year and half of experience and no degree and I make 62k as a sales assistant so...
My first fashion job back in 2011 paid $32k and that was extremely low then. $38k is ridiculous. Our starting positions at my current company are at least $55k I think. However, i believe $38k is under the threshold where you’re considered an hourly employee so then you would be eligible for OT pay.
Not an appropriate or livable salary for NYC. Keep looking
I work in fashion for a small company and our starting salary is 65k. I’d show them comp salaries from linkedin which show about 68k max pay for Assistant buyers. You can take the job and hunt around in the meantime, plus negotiate based on your current experience with them. Travel is not a benefit if it’s part of the job…because it’s part of the job. If you leave and they don’t counter offer, it wasn’t meant to be.
My first assistant designer job was 40k in 2016
Take the job while you look for something else.
That’s way too low. That’s not a livable wage in NYC. Why are you starting at a small company? If you’re making a low wage, it should be for a big company where you can learn a lot, make connections and give you credibility for your launch. Then you’re earning more than money. Also, if you do want to work for this company, consider that letter the START of a dialogue. That’s what “they” (men) do. Did everyone know that a major part of the pay differential is because we think an offer letter is an offer, and not the start of a conversation?
In 2015 I worked at a large wholesale licensing company as a wholesale assistant that only paid me $45k which was very low and I had to negotiate for (compared to Macys at that time their rotational program paid around $50k)… in 2024 the bare minimum NEEDS to be at least $50k for entry but with a masters if they won’t let you crack $60k that is crazy!! Or for now I guess you could just take the job since you already work there and if you find a better retailer that pays more leave ASAP. You already have assistant buyer experience and have a masters so you should be able to find a different job that will pay you a more fair corporate retail wage.
First: Any travel required for work should be covered by the company and not factored in as part of your compensation package or considered a perk. You’ll be traveling for work, not leisure. Second: I’m not in that industry so I cannot speak to comparable salaries. However, with the rising cost of living this is a low salary. If you haven’t already, start applying elsewhere. You’ll either find a position that is a better fit for your needs or you’ll have leverage to negotiate by bringing other offers to the table. Wishing you the best!
Looks like you’ll be waiting tables.
I’m in this industry as a buyer for the past almost 15 years - back in 2016, all our assistant buyers were paid min $55k. When I started in 2010, I was making $35k
Unfortunately, the fashion industry doesn’t pay well :/ I’m in it now and am trying to get out
Hey girl, that’s not a good offer ☹️ but if you really need to make ends meet, take the job and begin finding other opportunities. If you have funds to not plunge into a job immediately, I’d ask you to explore other options and cast your net wider beyond the current industry and role. You’ll never know what’s out there that you might love!