Career in Footwear Designing: Salary Trends, Jobs & Roles 2025
Published by Shikha Kumari on Jan 20, 2025
Whether it was 2000 years ago or today, footwear is something that cannot be removed from human daily life. As the population rises, so does the footwear design industry. From slippers, shoes, sandals, to heels, the comfort of walking is continually researched to make footwear more comfortable.So, the footwear design market turns out to be a profitable career. Any candidate who wishes to build a career in this industry can do so by opting for courses like a Bachelor’s in Footwear Design. In this blog, we have discussed the role of footwear designers, their salaries, and job opportunities, particularly in hub cities like Delhi, etc.
Footwear Designer Salary Trends
Candidates who wish to start a career in footwear designing as freshers can have better job prospects if they possess both skills and expertise in the field. A career in footwear designing can be lucrative in India, especially if candidates are guided in the right way. For example, the salary range for a footwear designer can vary from Rs 1.5 LPA to Rs 3.5 LPA as a fresher. With more experience in the field, this can increase and may reach Rs 8 LPA to Rs 13 LPA lakhs or more. One must also be aware that the salary for footwear designers can be greatly influenced by factors such as location. Metropolitan cities, where industries have more prominence, tend to offer higher salaries. Similarly, skills and experience play a major role in determining salary. To give you a clearer picture, we have provided a salary trend for footwear designers in the table below:
| Experience | Salary (IN Rs) |
| Fresher | Rs 1.5 LPA – Rs 3.5 LPA |
| Mid Level Salary | Rs 3 LPA – Rs 6 LPA |
| Experienced | Rs 8 LPA – Rs 13 LPA |
Footwear Designer Jobs in India
A career in footwear designing for freshers can be started by opting for any course or degree such as a Bachelor of Design or Master of Design in Leather Designing or Footwear Designing itself. The salary range for different specializations in this field can vary, as they all have different objectives and responsibilities. You can refer to the table below to understand the salary ranges for various jobs in footwear design:
| Specializations | Average Salary (In Rs) |
| Footwear Technician | Rs 3.15 LPA |
| Footwear Designer | Rs 3.87 LPA |
| Footwear Development Manager | Rs 3.45 LPA |
| Footwear Developer | Rs 3.45 LPA |
| Footwear Merchandiser | Rs 6.7 LPA |
| Retail Store Managers (Shoes) | Rs 3.95 LPA |
Footwear Designing Roles
Do not be under the illusion that footwear designing is solely concerned with shoes and heels. There are various roles and responsibilities that a fashion designer can have in their career. Here, we will explore some of the different jobs and their roles within the footwear design industry:
| Specialization | Role Description |
| Footwear Technician | Handles the technical part of making shoes, checks quality, and solves any problems during production. |
| Footwear Designer | Designs shoes, making sure they are stylish, comfortable, and meet market trends. |
| Footwear Development Manager | Manages the process of creating shoes, working with design, production, and marketing teams to ensure the product is made on time and is of good quality. |
| Footwear Developer | Turns shoe designs into actual products, making sure the shoes can be produced as planned. |
| Footwear Merchandiser | Looks at market trends, sets prices, and helps plan sales strategies to sell shoes. |
| Retail Store Managers (Shoes) | Runs a footwear store, manages the team, inventory, and ensures the store meets sales goals. |
Footwear Designer Salary across India
Mumbai, Kolkata & Delhi are one of the fashion hubs of India, and as a result, footwear designers in the city tend to earn better salary ranges compared to other parts of the country. This is due to the higher demand for skilled professionals and the presence of prominent footwear brands. These figures can vary depending on factors such as the company, individual experience, and skill set. Footwear Designer jobs in Delhi can have an average salary of Rs 6 LPA. Cities like Mumbai have a competitive fashion industry that provides opportunities for footwear designers to grow and earn higher salaries over time.
| City | Salary (In Rs) |
| New Delhi | Rs 4.6 LPA |
| Chennai | Rs 4 LPA |
| Mumbai | Rs 5.2 LPA |
| Kolkata | Rs 5 LPA |
| Bangalore | Rs 4.6 LPA |
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