Production

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

11/100
#671 of 825
$62,750
median pay, U.S.
2,950
employed (2024)
-10.2%
growth, 2024–34
300
openings per year
High school diploma or equivalent
typical entry education

Is fabric and apparel patternmakers a good career?

It scores 11/100 and ranks #671 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • Pays above the U.S. median wage ($62,750)
  • No college degree typically required to enter

Possible tradeoffs

  • Employment is projected to decline (-10.2% through 2034)

What fabric and apparel patternmakers earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. fabric and apparel patternmakers earn between $42,620 and $93,930 a year.

Best-paying states

New York statewide
$101,230
California statewide
$89,010
Pennsylvania statewide
$65,900
Indiana statewide
$59,400
Missouri statewide
$56,490
Oregon statewide
$55,740
Ohio statewide
$49,220
North Carolina statewide
$48,180
Massachusetts statewide
$47,680
Virginia statewide
$45,390
$20k $90k $160k

Best-paying metros

01 New York, NY $101,250
02 Los Angeles, CA $89,010
03 San Diego, CA $85,490
04 Boston, MA $55,540
05 Hickory, NC $48,380
06 Greensboro, NC $40,090

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 930
02 New York 670
03 Florida 380
05 Texas 70
06 Indiana 50

Live fabric and apparel patternmakers jobs

No live fabric and apparel patternmakers openings yet

When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified fabric and apparel patternmakers openings will appear here — each shown against the $62,750 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.

No placeholder listings · nothing invented

How to become a fabric and apparel patternmaker

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Related occupations

No formal educational credential · $34,890 median
No formal educational credential · $36,670 median
No formal educational credential · $35,060 median
Questions about becoming a fabric and apparel patternmaker
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make?

The national median wage is $62,750 a year, with the middle half earning between $42,620 and $93,930 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is fabric and apparel patternmakers a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 11 of 100 and ranks #671 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -10.2% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a fabric and apparel patternmaker?

The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.

Where do fabric and apparel patternmakers earn the most?

Among states, New York pays the highest median ($101,230). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →