Assistant Wardrobe Stylist Salary and Career Facts

Explore the career requirements to become an assistant wardrobe stylist. Get the facts about education requirements, on-the-job training, job outlook and potential salary to determine if this career is right for you.

What Is an Assistant Wardrobe Stylist?

A wardrobe stylist works to assemble the outfits seen on models, actors and performers in various media outlets, including commercials, music videos, fashion editorial spreads, advertising campaigns or public appearances. Your primary role would be to assist the professional stylist. These professionals stay updated on the latest fashion trends and may experiment with various colors, materials and patterns. Assistant wardrobe stylists may have their work approved by the professional stylist or art director to make sure that their vision lines up with the visual style of the collection or production. Some of these assistants may also perform some administrative duties, such as scheduling appointments or organizing clothes. If this position appeals to you, refer to the table below for important information about entering this field.

Education Required	Varies from some postsecondary training to a bachelor's degree
Training Required	On-the-job training or apprenticeship
Field of Study	Fashion design, fashion merchandising, theatrical production or related field
Key Responsibilities	Act as assistant to professional stylist, assist models in getting fitted and made up, schedule appointments and events and keep clothing collections organized
Job Growth (2020-2030)	0% for all fashion designers*
Median Wage (2021)	$17 per hour for all assistant fashion stylists**

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com

What Does an Assistant Wardrobe Stylist Do?

As an assistant wardrobe stylist, your job is to work at the beck and call of a professional stylist. You work to make the stylist's professional life easier while also learning the tricks of the trade so that you might advance in the field yourself.

If you work as an assistant wardrobe stylist, you might find a long-term position with an individual stylist, or you might be hired to work on individual projects or photo shoots. In the latter type of position, your responsibilities might include assisting in client's fitting, performing light physical labor and gathering samples. You may also schedule appointments with clients, set up meetings with designers, organize collections of clothes and accessories, and coordinate with fashion editors, hairstylists and makeup artists.

Will I Need Education or Training?

No one specific educational path can prepare you to become an assistant wardrobe stylist. Some vocational schools do offer training courses in wardrobe styling, but you will typically learn the skills of the profession while on the job. However, some wardrobe stylists may prefer to hire you as an assistant if you have some type of formal postsecondary education.

Some bachelor's degree programs that might prepare you for a position as an assistant wardrobe stylist include 4-year programs in fashion design, fashion merchandising, theatrical production and visual merchandising. A Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design and Merchandising in particular can provide you with an understanding of trend forecasting, visual merchandising, fashion illustration and merchandise buying. Some degree programs in the field even dedicate entire courses to the theories and practices of wardrobe consulting and fashion styling.

How Might I Start Out in My Career?

You can typically start your career as an assistant wardrobe stylist by completing an unpaid internship or apprenticeship-like program. In such a position you are responsible for providing assistance to a wardrobe stylist or an entire team of stylists. You'll learn the ins and outs of the profession while also building up a network of professional contacts. When you are ready to launch your own career as a wardrobe stylist, you will already have experience in the field and industry support to help you get started.

What Salary Could I Expect to Make?

According to PayScale.com, most fashion stylist assistants earneed with with a median wage of $17 per hour as of 2021. PayScale.com reported that regular fashion stylists, meanwhile, earned between $27,000 and $103,000 as of the same year.

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

A model is a similar position that does not require any formal education. Models advertise a wide variety of products. They may participate in fashion shows or be photographed wearing or using a product. Floral designers are also similar, but need a high school diploma. These designers create displays and bouquets out of all types of flowers. An art director is another alternative, but requires a bachelor's degree. These professionals create and maintain the visual style for a production or publication, such as a movie or magazine.