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Costume Attendants in California

Thinking about a career as a Costume Attendants in California? Below are the key facts. Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.

What do Costume Attendants Make in California?

For a costume attendants working in California, the typical annual salary is $80,440 per year (or about $38.67/hour).Pay can range from $37,510 at the 10th percentile to $122,290 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$37,510	$18.04
25th percentile	$45,620	$21.93
Median (50th)	$80,440	$38.67
75th percentile	$103,470	$49.75
90th percentile	$122,290	$58.79

The job concentration index in California compared to the national average — is 2.36, indicating that costume attendants are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, costume attendants earn a median of $46,757 per year ($22.48/hour), higher than the California median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 396,096 costume attendants nationwide. In California alone, about 1,740 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 90 costume attendants.

Top California Metros for Costume Attendants

The largest metro-area employers of costume attendants in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1,290	$101,860
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	70	$39,780
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	50	$44,240
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	40	$60,470
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	30	$51,910

Top States for Costume Attendants Employment

The table below shows the states where the most costume attendants work.

State	Number Employed
California	1,740
New York	1,120
Florida	450
Nevada	380
Illinois	210
Ohio	170
Pennsylvania	170
Texas	160
Washington	150
Wisconsin	130
Massachusetts	130
Missouri	130
Utah	120
Michigan	100
New Jersey	90
Arizona	90
District of Columbia	80
Minnesota	80
South Carolina	70
Connecticut	60

Highest-Paying States for Costume Attendants

These states pay the most for costume attendants.

State	Annual Median Salary
California	$80,440
New York	$77,280
Georgia	$68,390
Washington	$62,430
Wisconsin	$59,460
Florida	$59,070
Colorado	$55,270
Hawaii	$55,150
Rhode Island	$49,360
District of Columbia	$48,190

Skills

Top costume attendants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for costume attendants, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Purchase, rent, or requisition costumes or other wardrobe necessities.
• Study books, pictures, or examples of period clothing to determine styles worn during specific periods in history.

Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Getting Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Assisting and Caring for Others

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Related occupations to costume attendants include:

• Craft Artists
• Commercial and Industrial Designers
• Fashion Designers
• Interior Designers
• Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
• Set and Exhibit Designers

Also Known As

Costume Attendant, Costume Cutter, Costume Draper, Costume Dresser, Costume Mistress, Costume Seamstress, Costume Shop Coordinator, Costume Specialist, Costume Technician, Costumer, Costumer Assistant, Draper, Dresser, Fashion Assistant, Shop Attendant.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 39-3092.00