The 2025 Fashion Styling Rate Guide: What Stylists Actually Earn (Part 1/3)
1,223 stylists shared what they actually charge — here’s the breakdown.
The fashion industry has a problem with money conversations. Stylists work for free, assistants carry the industry on their backs for pocket change, and freelancers price themselves into poverty because nobody talks about what people actually earn.
Through Stylist Elixir, I've spoken to thousands of fashion creatives across six continents. The same stories keep coming up: "I smiled and nodded when asked to work for 'exposure.'" "I didn't know what to charge so I said yes to everything." "I've been styling for three years and I'm still broke."
The secrecy ends here.
I've gathered data from over 1,000 stylists about what they're actually charging right now. I've broken down rates by region, experience level, and type of work. I've created the calculation framework that helps you figure out what you should be charging. And I've included the conversation scripts that actually get you paid.
What you'll find across this three-part series:
Current rate data from 1,223 stylists across UK, US, and EU
Complete rate breakdowns for editorial, celebrity, commercial, and personal styling
Assistant rates and the reality of what support staff actually earn
The rate calculation framework that actually works
Usage rights negotiations that protect your income
Confidence scripts for money conversations
This isn't just about knowing the numbers. It's about having the knowledge and confidence to charge what your work is actually worth.
Whether you're an assistant wondering if £50 a day is normal (it's not), a stylist unsure about your first commercial rate, or someone who's been in the industry for years but suspects you're undercharging - this series is for you.
We asked our community and over 1,223 of you voted on what you're actually charging right now. We had voters from all levels in the industry and from all different work types. We had "famous" stylists, stylists represented from top agencies, stylists working with major commercial clients and stylists who have a few years under their belt voting.
Important note: This data comes from self-reported community responses through Instagram polls — it reflects what stylists tell us they charge, based on their own experiences across different markets and career stages.
A note on geographic scope: This series focuses on UK, US, and European markets because that's where the majority of our Stylist Elixir community is based and where I have the most reliable data. The fashion industries in Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa have their own unique market conditions, client expectations, and pricing structures that deserve dedicated research. If you're a stylist working in these regions, I'd love to hear from you to make future versions truly global.