Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Costume designer salary
Average costume designer salary
$54,229
Costume Designer Salary Overview
The average salary for a costume designer in the United States is approximately $54,229 per year, or $26 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works. For example, costume designers in the film and television sector tend to earn higher than those in theater.
Regional Variations
Costume designers in states like California and New York often report higher salaries due to the concentration of film and fashion industries. In contrast, those working in less populous regions may find lower average salaries. Understanding these regional differences is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in costume design.
Job Opportunities
In addition to traditional roles in film and theater, costume designers can explore opportunities in fashion, television, and event planning. These diverse paths can lead to varied earning potentials, making it essential for aspiring designers to consider their career options carefully.
Let Zippi find your next costume designer job
Let Zippi find your next costume designer job
Where can a Costume Designer earn more?
Costume designer salary estimates from across the web
Average costume designer salary by state
The average costume designer salary in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average costume designer salary states are Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for costume designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $71,281 | $34.27 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $69,591 | $33.46 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $70,686 | $33.98 |
| 4 | Washington | $63,562 | $30.56 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $64,662 | $31.09 |
| 6 | Delaware | $66,570 | $32.00 |
| 7 | Vermont | $60,702 | $29.18 |
| 8 | New York | $58,651 | $28.20 |
| 9 | Alaska | $70,554 | $33.92 |
| 10 | California | $60,863 | $29.26 |
| 11 | Utah | $55,890 | $26.87 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $57,860 | $27.82 |
| 13 | Oregon | $56,949 | $27.38 |
| 14 | Nevada | $65,776 | $31.62 |
| 15 | Idaho | $58,602 | $28.17 |
| 16 | Maine | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| 17 | Missouri | $53,543 | $25.74 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $57,834 | $27.80 |
| 19 | North Dakota | $54,174 | $26.05 |
| 20 | Colorado | $53,185 | $25.57 |
| 21 | Texas | $47,780 | $22.97 |
| 22 | Ohio | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $53,457 | $25.70 |
| 25 | Michigan | $45,523 | $21.89 |
| 26 | Maryland | $51,155 | $24.59 |
| 27 | Georgia | $44,972 | $21.62 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $51,993 | $25.00 |
| 29 | Virginia | $44,814 | $21.55 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $44,295 | $21.30 |
| 31 | Montana | $47,022 | $22.61 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $47,533 | $22.85 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $46,105 | $22.17 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $45,446 | $21.85 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $45,979 | $22.11 |
| 36 | Indiana | $44,111 | $21.21 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $44,267 | $21.28 |
| 38 | Arizona | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| 39 | Minnesota | $42,561 | $20.46 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $43,751 | $21.03 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $41,928 | $20.16 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $41,548 | $19.98 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $44,642 | $21.46 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $44,516 | $21.40 |
| 45 | Illinois | $36,243 | $17.42 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $41,517 | $19.96 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $41,069 | $19.74 |
| 48 | Florida | $41,570 | $19.99 |
| 49 | Iowa | $35,323 | $16.98 |
| 50 | Kansas | $34,349 | $16.51 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,947 | $19.21 |
Highest paying cities for costume designers
The highest-paying cities for costume designers are Camarillo, CA, New York, NY, and Kansas City, MO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camarillo, CA | $59,297 | $28.51 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $58,676 | $28.21 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $53,421 | $25.68 |
| 4 | Frostburg, MD | $50,377 | $24.22 |
| 5 | Lynchburg, VA | $43,848 | $21.08 |
| 6 | Cottage Grove, MN | $42,630 | $20.50 |
| 7 | Coral Gables, FL | $41,018 | $19.72 |
| 8 | Deerfield, IL | $36,408 | $17.50 |
Costume designer salary details
A costume designer's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $84,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a costume designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $68,000 | $5,667 | $33 |
| Average | $54,229 | $4,519 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying costume designer jobs
The highest paying types of costume designers are fashion director, senior designer, and fashion design internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Stylist | $45,524 | $3,794 | $21.89 | 13,031 |
| Fashion Internship | $49,534 | $4,128 | $23.81 | 49,151 |
| Fashion Designer | $54,265 | $4,522 | $26.09 | 49,476 |
| Apparel Designer | $65,467 | $5,456 | $31.47 | 46,436 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
Top companies hiring costume designers now:
Which companies pay costume designers the most?
Costume designer salaries at Poly Prep Country Day School and Vanderbilt University Medical Center are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average costume designer salary at companies like Frostburg State University and Actors' Playhouse are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $70,640 | $33.96 |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $63,786 | $30.67 |
| 3 | Frostburg State University | $55,879 | $26.86 |
| 4 | Actors' Playhouse | $54,499 | $26.20 |
| 5 | Kansas City Kansas Community College | $52,442 | $25.21 |
| 6 | Liberty University | $41,263 | $19.84 |
| 7 | Deerfield Park District | $41,091 | $19.76 |
| 8 | South Washington County Schools | $40,630 | $19.53 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Costume Designer salary by industry
The average costume designer salary varies across industries:
- The average costume designer salary in the professional industry is $61,415, the highest of any industry.
- The average costume designer salary in the finance industry is $54,887.
- Costume designers in the media industry earn an average salary of $48,026, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for costume designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $61,415 | $29.53 |
| 2 | Education | $54,887 | $26.39 |
| 3 | Health Care | $53,827 | $25.88 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $52,007 | $25.00 |
| 5 | Real Estate | $48,742 | $23.43 |
| 6 | Media | $48,026 | $23.09 |
High paying costume designer jobs
Costume designer salary trends
The average costume designer salary has risen by $7,955 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average costume designer earned $46,274 annually, but today, they earn $54,229 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for costume designers over the last decade.
Compare costume designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average costume designer salary over time
Compare costume designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Costume designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,200 | $26.07 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $52,800 | $25.38 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $52,000 | $25.01 | +7.3% |
| 2022 | $48,200 | $23.19 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | $46,600 | $22.41 | +2.3% |
Recently added costume designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Public Schools | Costume Designer for Best-Summer 2025 | Burlington, MA | 06/28/2025 | $36,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theater Co | Over Costume Craftsperson | Chicago, IL | 05/18/2025 | $47,062 |
| Workwisse | Tokusatsu Costume Designer | Ione, CA | 02/17/2025 | $83,480 |
| Playbill, Inc. | Technical Paid Costume Designer | Peter & The Starcatcher The Norwalk Conservatory Norwalk, CT US 01 | Norwalk, CT | 02/16/2025 | $26,088 |
| Connect The Arts | Costume Designer Position-Winter Opera Saint Louis Posted AGO · Rolling ST. Louis | Noel, MO | 02/16/2025 | $35,479 |
| University of The District of Columbia | Costume Design Observership | Broadway, VA | 12/14/2024 | $36,000 |
| University of The District of Columbia | Costume Design Observership | Tallulah, LA | 12/11/2024 | $36,000 |
| Forest Grove School District 15 | Co-Drama Costume Designer | Forest Grove, OR | 12/10/2024 | $95,219 |
| Playbill, Inc. | Paid Costume Designer-Annie/Chicago/Newsies Young Actors Theatre Tallahassee, FL US/2024 | Tallahassee, FL | 12/09/2024 | $24,000 |
| Edmates | Costume Designer | Bono, AR | 10/23/2024 | $50,000 |
Costume designer salary FAQs
Search for costume designer jobs