Personal Care & Service
Costume Attendants
Also called: Costume Draper, Costume Seamstress, Costumer, Draper
US median pay
$50,400
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+5.9%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
1,700
6,600 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
What they do day to day
- Create worksheets for dressing lists, show notes, or costume checks.
- Provide dressing assistance to cast members or assign cast dressers to assist specific cast members with costume changes.
- Arrange costumes in order of use to facilitate quick-change procedures for performances.
- Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
- Examine costume fit on cast members and sketch or write notes for alterations.
- Distribute costumes or related equipment and keep records of item status.
- Check the appearance of costumes on stage or under lights to determine whether desired effects are being achieved.
- Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs.
- Collaborate with production designers, costume designers, or other production staff to discuss and execute costume design details.
- Monitor, maintain, or secure inventories of costumes, wigs, or makeup, providing keys or access to assigned directors, costume designers, or wardrobe mistresses/masters.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Service Orientation2.9/5
- Time Management2.8/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
- Negotiation2.8/5
- Instructing2.5/5
- Systems Evaluation2.4/5
Knowledge
- Fine Arts3.6/5
- Design3.2/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.1/5
- English Language3.1/5
- Psychology3.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma32%
- Bachelor's degree30%
- Some college15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.