Fabric and apparel patternmakers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| Mean (average) | $71,420 | $34.34 |
| 90th percentile | $123,540 | $59.39 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Fabric and apparel patternmakers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 13 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $89,010 | $47,730 | $114,800 | 930 | 2.69 |
| Florida | $33,790 | $33,790 | $47,330 | 380 | 2.03 |
| Indiana | $59,400 | $37,580 | $88,850 | 50 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $47,680 | $43,150 | $77,430 | ||
| Mississippi | $41,060 | $31,200 | $49,860 | 30 | 1.48 |
| Missouri | $56,490 | $37,860 | $79,740 | 50 | 0.85 |
| New York | $101,230 | $56,880 | $151,340 | 670 | 3.62 |
| North Carolina | $48,180 | $32,240 | $63,450 | 270 | 2.9 |
| Ohio | $49,220 | $39,210 | $95,770 | 30 | 0.29 |
| Oregon | $55,740 | $36,250 | $76,770 | 30 | 0.85 |
| Pennsylvania | $65,900 | $30,060 | $85,940 | 40 | 0.38 |
| Texas | $34,930 | $21,460 | $66,410 | 70 | 0.26 |
| Virginia | $45,390 | $37,780 | $63,500 | 40 | 0.52 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Apparel and Textile Manufacture CIP 19.0902
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.
- Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting.
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments.
- Make adjustments to patterns after fittings.
- Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material.
- Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions.
- Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns.
- Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments.
Technology skills
- Adobe Illustrator (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Gerber Technology AccuMark
- PatternMaker
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Quality Control Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Cutter, Designer, Fabric Cutter, Pattern Designer, Pattern Maker, Pattern Technician, Production Pattern Maker, Sewing Pattern Layout Technician, Technical Designer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make?
The national median annual wage for fabric and apparel patternmakers was $62,750 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,790 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $123,540. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do fabric and apparel patternmakers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is fabric and apparel patternmakers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of fabric and apparel patternmakers to change -15.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay fabric and apparel patternmakers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($101,230), California ($89,010), Pennsylvania ($65,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.