How to become a Costume Attendant

Official title: Costume Attendants

Also called: Costume Draper, Costume Seamstress, Costumer, Draper, Dresser, Wardrobe Assistant, Wardrobe Attendant, Wardrobe Supervisor

Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.

Main tasks

• 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Wardrobe Supervisor.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $50,400 a year The middle half earn $38,610 to $77,680.
• About 6,600 people work in this job now, and about 7,000 are projected by 2035. (+5.9%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Amusement and Recreation Attendants
• Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants
• Gambling Dealers
• Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
• Motion Picture Projectionists
• Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Costume Attendant?

Ways in include: Wardrobe Supervisor.

How much does a Costume Attendant earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $50,400 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,610 to $77,680.

Is a Costume Attendant a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 6,600 to about 7,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Costume Attendant?

Not always. 32% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Wardrobe Supervisor.

Will AI change the work of a Costume Attendant?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.