All careers › Costume Attendants
Costume attendant: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $32,150lowest 10% earn less
- $38,61025th percentile
- $50,400median
- $77,68075th percentile
- $109,520top 10% earn more
A costume attendant had a median pay of $50,400 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 1,700[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do costume attendants make?
The median pay for costume attendants was $50,400 a year, or $24.23 an hour[1]. The average was $63,440 a year, or $30.50 an hour[7]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job was close to, and a little under, the all-occupation figure.
The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32,150 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $38,610[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $77,680, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $109,520[3]. By the hour, those marks were $15.46, $18.56, $37.34 and $52.66[8].
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3][8] | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Median[1] | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| 90th percentile[3][8] | $109,520 | $52.66 |
A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 29 states and DC with published data, New York had the highest median at $95,230, followed by Georgia at $94,890 and California at $72,030[11]. Texas had the lowest listed median at $28,440[11].
California had the most jobs at 1,620, followed by New York with 950 and Florida with 670[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the highest median at $106,810, then New York-Newark-Jersey City at $95,230 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $65,460[13]. Los Angeles also had the most jobs, at 1,210, with New York next at 890[14].
Show median pay in 29 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| New York[11] | $95,230 | 950 |
| Georgia | $94,890 | 100 |
| California | $72,030 | 1,620 |
| Washington | $64,650 | 120 |
| Colorado | $57,960 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $57,660 | 30 |
| Nevada | $55,640 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $55,190 | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $53,290 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $52,000 | 80 |
| Oregon | $51,680 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,270 | 260 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | 140 |
| Utah | $47,850 | 140 |
| Virginia | $46,790 | 40 |
| Ohio | $46,330 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $45,220 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $45,010 | 100 |
| Connecticut | $44,550 | 60 |
| Missouri | $40,800 | 110 |
| Florida | $40,680 | 670 |
| Wisconsin | $38,470 | 160 |
| Arizona | $37,430 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $37,240 | 40 |
| Alabama | $35,910 | 50 |
| Indiana | $34,160 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $33,920 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $33,510 | 50 |
| Michigan | $31,920 | 80 |
| Texas | $28,440 | 550 |
How to become a costume attendant
The typical entry route is short[6].
- First: finish high school or get an equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[6].
- Next: you do not need related work experience[6].
- Then: expect short-term on-the-job training[6].
ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[15]. In an ONET survey of 39 workers, 32% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required and 30% said a bachelor's degree[16]. Another 15% said some college courses, 10% said less than a high school diploma and 8% said a post-secondary certificate[16]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only.
O*NET lists titles such as Dresser, Wardrobe Assistant, Wardrobe Attendant and Costumer for this work[17].
What costume attendants do
Costume attendants choose, fit and look after costumes for cast members, and they help performers with changes during a show[18]. Common tasks include:
- Making worksheets for dressing lists, show notes or costume checks[19].
- Helping cast members dress, or assigning dressers to help[19].
- Putting costumes in order of use so quick changes go smoothly[19].
- Checking how a costume fits and noting alterations[19].
- Cleaning, pressing and doing minor repairs before and after performances[19].
- Tracking costumes and equipment handed out[19].
- Working with designers and other production staff on costume details[19].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of costume attendants to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,600 to 7,000 jobs[2]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[20]. These counts include the self-employed, who were 0.8% of this group in 2025[2][21].
About 1,700 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 10% of workers leave the labor force and 13.8% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The job has a low barrier to entry, with a high school diploma and short on-the-job training[6]. Median pay is close to the all-occupation median, and the range is wide[1][3][4]. Pay differs sharply by place, with New York and California medians well above the Texas median[11]. Employment is projected to grow faster than all occupations[2][20]. These facts suggest the job suits people who want an entry-level role in costume work and can work in or move to a place where the jobs are[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a costume attendant make an hour?
- The median was $24.23 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $30.50[1][7].
- What education do you need to be a costume attendant?
- The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is costume attendant a growing job?
- Employment is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][20].
- What is the highest paying state for costume attendants?
- New York had the highest median at $95,230, with Georgia next at $94,890[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Costume Attendants in the US was $50,400 per year and $24.23 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Costume Attendants is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,600 to 7,000 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Costume Attendants: 10th percentile $32,150, 25th percentile $38,610, 75th percentile $77,680, 90th percentile $109,520. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,700 openings for Costume Attendants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Costume Attendants: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Costume Attendants was $63,440 per year and $30.50 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Costume Attendants: 10th percentile $15.46, 25th percentile $18.56, 75th percentile $37.34, 90th percentile $52.66. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Costume Attendants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Costume Attendants jobs: California 1,620; New York 950; Florida 670; Texas 550; Nevada 390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Costume Attendants (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $106,810; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $95,230; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $65,460; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $59,420; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $56,690; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $49,180; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $45,750; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $43,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Costume Attendants jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,210 (median $106,810); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 890 (median $95,230); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 540 (median $43,780); Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV 350 (median $56,690); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 210 (median $45,750); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 120 (median $49,180). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 39-3092.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-3092.00 survey of workers (39 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 32%, Bachelor's Degree 30%, Some College Courses 15%, Less than a High School Diploma 10%, Post-Secondary Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 39-3092.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Costume Draper, Costume Seamstress, Costumer, Draper, Dresser, Wardrobe Assistant, Wardrobe Attendant, Wardrobe Supervisor. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Costume Attendants. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Costume Attendants. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.8% of Costume Attendants were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Costume Attendants: 10% of workers leave the labor force each year and 13.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.