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Costume Attendants
Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
Other titles employers use
Costume Draper · Costume Seamstress · Costumer · Draper · Dresser · Wardrobe Assistant · Wardrobe Attendant · Wardrobe Supervisor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to creative, organizing and practical work.
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
Subjects to know
- Fine Arts
- Design
- Production and Processing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Fluency of Ideas
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.0 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.2 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.9 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 43%
- A four-year degree 30%
- A certificate or some college 22%
- A two-year degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
- Internet browser software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 2,300
- Job openings each year
- 650
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,300 | 650 | 4.5% |
| New York | 780 | 0 | — |
| Georgia | 360 | 100 | 20.0% |
| Nevada | 280 | 80 | 16.7% |
| Texas | 280 | 80 | 7.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 230 | 60 | — |
| Utah | 180 | 50 | 38.5% |
| New Jersey | 150 | 40 | — |
| Illinois | 140 | 40 | — |
| Florida | 110 | 30 | 22.2% |
| Missouri | 90 | 30 | — |
| Nebraska | 80 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Ohio | 80 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Tennessee | 80 | 20 | 33.3% |
| Washington | 80 | 20 | — |
| Wisconsin | 80 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Connecticut | 70 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Indiana | 70 | 20 | 16.7% |
| North Carolina | 70 | 20 | 16.7% |
| Virginia | 70 | 20 | 16.7% |
| District of Columbia | 50 | 20 | — |
| Oregon | 40 | 10 | 33.3% |
| Alabama | 20 | 10 | — |
| Kentucky | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
New York University
- Degrees each year
- 421
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
- Degrees each year
- 225
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $44,000
Savannah College of Art and Design
- Degrees each year
- 220
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $49,000
Texas State University
- Degrees each year
- 168
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
University of Southern California
- Degrees each year
- 150
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Columbia College Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 140
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Annual cost after aid
- $26,000
SUNY at Purchase College
- Degrees each year
- 139
- Admit rate
- 73%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Loyola Marymount University
- Degrees each year
- 121
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $34,000
Compare every college offering drama/theatre arts and stagecraft