Costume Attendants

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

What you'd actually do

• 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work splits time indoors and out; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.2% of costume attendants are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are creative, organized and detail-focused and hands-on.

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Quick questions

How much does a costume attendant make?

The median pay is $24.23 per hour — roughly $50,500 a year, with the real range running from about $15.46/hr (10th percentile) to $52.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a costume attendant?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a costume attendant actually do all 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.