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Pattern maker: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$62,750median pay per year, or $30.17 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,62025th percentile
  3. $62,750median
  4. $93,93075th percentile
  5. $123,540top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

A pattern maker earned a median of $62,750 a year in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Pay varies widely, and employment is projected to shrink over the next decade[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
-15%[4]
Openings per year
200[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do pattern makers make?

The official BLS category is Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers. In May 2025 the median pay was $62,750 a year, or $30.17 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was higher at $71,420 a year, or $34.34 an hour[7].

For all occupations, the median was $50,980, so this job sits above that line[2].

Annual pay spread out a lot[3]:

Percentile Annual wage Source
10th[3] $33,790
25th[3] $42,620
50th (median)[1] $62,750
75th[3] $93,930
90th[3] $123,540

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,790, and the top 10% earned more than $123,540[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. Hourly, the 25th percentile was $20.49 and the 75th was $45.16[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state figures for 13 states[11]. New York had the highest median at $101,230, followed by California at $89,010 and Pennsylvania at $65,900[11]. Pennsylvania had only 40 jobs[11].

California had the most jobs at 930, then New York at 670, Florida at 380, North Carolina at 270 and Texas at 70[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the top medians were New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $101,250, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $89,010 and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC at $48,380[13]. Los Angeles had the most metro jobs at 830, ahead of New York at 630[14].

Show median pay in 13 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[11]$101,230670
California$89,010930
Pennsylvania$65,90040
Indiana$59,40050
Missouri$56,49050
Oregon$55,74030
Ohio$49,22030
North Carolina$48,180270
Massachusetts$47,680n/a
Virginia$45,39040
Mississippi$41,06030
Texas$34,93070
Florida$33,790380

How to become a pattern maker

BLS describes a short entry path[6].

Workers themselves report a mix of education. In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 41% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 26% said a bachelor's degree, 19% said some college courses and 12% said a post-secondary certificate[15]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

What pattern makers do

Pattern makers draw and build precise master patterns or layouts for fabric and apparel. They may also mark and cut fabric[16]. Common tasks include[17]:

Workers report job titles such as pattern designer, pattern technician and production pattern maker[18].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 15% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,000 to 2,600 jobs[4]. For all occupations, growth of 3.5% is projected[19].

Even so, about 200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs left when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.5% move to another occupation[20].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits someone who can enter with a high school diploma and no prior experience, then learn through training[6]. The median is above the all-occupations median, but the spread is wide, from $33,790 to $123,540 at the 10th and 90th percentiles[2][3]. Jobs are concentrated in a few states, with California and New York leading in both pay and job counts[11][12]. The projected 15% decline is a real limit, though some openings still come up each year[4][5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[21].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pattern maker make an hour?
The median was $30.17 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 25th percentile was $20.49 and the 75th was $45.16[9].
What education do you need to be a pattern maker?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with no related experience needed[6].
Is pattern maker a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to fall 15% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[4][19]. About 200 openings a year are still projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for pattern makers?
New York had the highest median at $101,230, followed by California at $89,010[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in the US was $62,750 per year and $30.17 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: 10th percentile $33,790, 25th percentile $42,620, 75th percentile $93,930, 90th percentile $123,540. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is projected to decline 15% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,000 to 2,600 jobs (a change of -500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 200 openings for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers 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
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers was $71,420 per year and $34.34 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. 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
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: 10th percentile $16.25, 25th percentile $20.49, 75th percentile $45.16, 90th percentile $59.39. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. Median annual wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers jobs: California 930; New York 670; Florida 380; North Carolina 270; Texas 70. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $101,250; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $89,010; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $48,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 830 (median $89,010); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 630 (median $101,250); Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC 150 (median $48,380); Greensboro-High Point, NC 70 (median $40,090); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 40 (median $85,490); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 30 (median $55,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 51-6092.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 41%, Bachelor's Degree 26%, Some College Courses 19%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET description of Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET task list for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 51-6092.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Cutter, Designer, Fabric Cutter, Pattern Designer, Pattern Maker, Pattern Technician, Production Pattern Maker, Sewing Pattern Layout Technician. O*NET OnLine
  19. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  20. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: 3.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  21. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

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.