Costume Attendants: Salary Overview
Costume attendants usually work in a theater or on a film set, where they select, fit, and take care of costumes for entertainers and cast members.
They may assist artists who change their costumes during performances.
Costume attendants work backstage where they make sure the costumes are ready for changes during the show.
They have a very important role in the entertainment industry and their attention to detail and organized nature is very important in making a show look flawless.
In order to find the right costume for the situation, costume attendants have to read the script and to research the time period that is portrayed in the film or the show.
They have to work closely with the costume designer and may help to make, alter, or repair costumes for the show.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly rate for costume attendants was $19.91 which translates to $41,410 a year as of May 2019.
The median wage shows us that half of all workers in this occupation earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries for this profession vary based on a wide range of factors, including the costume attendant’s experience level, the industry where he/she is employed, and the level of education.
As a costume attendant, you can make anywhere between less than $24,000 and more than $90,000 a year.
The 25th percentile for this profession was $29,300, which means that most costume attendants (75 percent) earned more than this amount.
The 75th percentile was $55,530, which means that only 25 percent of costume attendants earned more than this.
Costume Attendant Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the biggest employers for costume attendants were performing arts companies and the motion picture and video industries.
The average annual wage reported by costume attendants employed by performing arts companies was $49,830 in May 2019.
Costume attendants who worked in the motion picture and video industry earned, on average, $55,390 a year- more than 30 more than the average for all industries.
The average annual salary was $43,400 for costume attendants who worked for promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events and $47,950 for those who worked in the field of traveler accommodation.
Costume attendants who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools reportedly earned $38,160 a year, on average, as of May 2019.
In conclusion, finding employment as a costume attendant for a motion picture can help you earn a higher salary.
Salaries and job opportunities for this profession vary widely depending on the region and the state of employment.
The numbers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, show that the highest average annual salary was reported by costume attendants in New York.
Those who worked as costume attendants in this state reported earned $75,960 a year, on average.
Therefore, if you want to have better-earning prospects, you should consider relocating to The Empire State.
Job opportunities are also good in this region, New York being the state with the second-highest employment level of this occupation, after California.
Other top-paying states for costume attendants were New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada.
At the opposite end of the salary spectrum, we have costume attendants in North Dakota and Wisconsin reportedly earned less than $30,000 a year, on average.
As mentioned above, the state with the highest employment rate for costume attendants was California.
Although this state offers the highest number of jobs for this profession, the average annual wage reported by costume attendants in The Golden State was $40,000, lower than the median across all states.
However, your salary as a costume attendant will also vary depending on your level of skills and reputation and the size of your employer.
* Based on information from the May 2025 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Costume Attendants. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.