How to become a costume attendant

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What costume attendants do

• Design or construct costumes or send them to tailors for construction, major repairs, or alterations.
• Clean and press costumes before and after performances and perform any minor repairs.
• 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.
• Return borrowed or rented items when productions are complete and return other items to storage.
• Inventory stock to determine types or conditions of available costuming.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is costume attendant a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 1% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• New York $95,230
• Georgia $94,890
• California $72,030
• Washington $64,650
• Colorado $57,960

Costume Attendants salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.