What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Costume Attendants in the U.S. earn more than $50,400 a year — the middle 80% land between $32,150 and $109,520. About 6,510 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Costume Attendants”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$50,400typical pay / year
6,510people in this work
$109,520+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Care2
Assist with costume changes
+Assist backstage with the three quick changes for Act II: be at stage left ten minutes before curtain, have…
Assist with costume changes
+Assist backstage with the three quick changes for Act II: be at stage left ten minutes before curtain, have the green jacket, spare buttons, and double-needle seam kit ready, cue the dancers into the wings and confirm each change is complete.
The tools that do the workGarment trackingESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Take care of costumes
+Take full charge of the company’s weekend laundry and repair run: sort the evening’s costumes by performer,…
Take care of costumes
+Take full charge of the company’s weekend laundry and repair run: sort the evening’s costumes by performer, send damaged pieces to the tailor list, mark which garments need emergency replacement, and stash performance-ready sets in the labelled racks.
The tools that do the workGarment trackingESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record3
Check costume appearance on stage
+Check every performer’s costume onstage during the third dress: walk the wings and galleries at the first…
Check costume appearance on stage
+Check every performer’s costume onstage during the third dress: walk the wings and galleries at the first blackout, verify continuity of hairpieces, hems and accessories for Leads Carmen and Mateo, photograph any issues and report to the artistic director before the next cue.
The tools that do the workWeb browserESCOjob descriptionsO*NET
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Clean and press costumes
+Clean and press the principal and ensemble costumes after tonight’s run: follow fibre care labels, steam the…
Clean and press costumes
+Clean and press the principal and ensemble costumes after tonight’s run: follow fibre care labels, steam the set of ten period shirts first, note any shrinkage or stains on the repair log, and return pressed garments to the designated wardrobe bins.
The tools that do the workGarment trackingESCOjob descriptions
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Keep records of costume items
+Update the costume inventory spreadsheet with tonight’s changes: add three new headpieces, retire one dress…
Keep records of costume items
+Update the costume inventory spreadsheet with tonight’s changes: add three new headpieces, retire one dress from the rental list, log who checked out each item and its current condition so the props and finance teams can reconcile stock tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelGarment trackingjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work15
Study books, pictures, or examples of period clothing to determine styles worn during specific periods in history.
+Study the reference books, production photos, and museum plates for late 18th-century daywear and military…
Study books, pictures, or examples of period clothing to determine styles worn during specific periods in history.
+Study the reference books, production photos, and museum plates for late 18th-century daywear and military uniforms, list distinguishing silhouette, fabric and trim details, and note which features our available stock can match for rehearsals by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workWeb browserO*NET
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Return borrowed or rented items when productions are complete and return other items to storage.
+Collect the rented gowns and borrowed accessories from the stage manager, inspect each for damage, return…
Return borrowed or rented items when productions are complete and return other items to storage.
+Collect the rented gowns and borrowed accessories from the stage manager, inspect each for damage, return rental pieces to the supplier with the signed return form, and move company-owned items back to the costume loft by Friday afternoon.
The tools that do the workGarment trackingO*NET
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Participate in the hiring, training, scheduling, or supervision of alteration workers.
+Interview two alteration candidates, demonstrate a seam alteration task, set the shift rota for next week,…
Participate in the hiring, training, scheduling, or supervision of alteration workers.
+Interview two alteration candidates, demonstrate a seam alteration task, set the shift rota for next week, and write up training notes and expectations for stitchers so they start on Monday with clear continuity rules from the director.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Recommend vendors and monitor their work.
+Compile a shortlist of three reliable tailoring and millinery vendors, record recent job quality and…
Recommend vendors and monitor their work.
+Compile a shortlist of three reliable tailoring and millinery vendors, record recent job quality and turnaround times, call the preferred vendor to confirm availability for the next show, and schedule a sample fitting for next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Care for non-clothing items, such as flags, table skirts, or draperies.
+Inspect flags, table skirts and drapes after the last performance, note cleaning or repair needs, arrange…
Care for non-clothing items, such as flags, table skirts, or draperies.
+Inspect flags, table skirts and drapes after the last performance, note cleaning or repair needs, arrange laundering or mending, and restack them on labeled shelving so stage crew can find them for the next event.
The tools that do the workGarment trackingO*NET
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Preset costumes
+Prepare actor presets: assign complete outfits with accessories, tag garments with actor names, create a…
Preset costumes
+Prepare actor presets: assign complete outfits with accessories, tag garments with actor names, create a daily preset sheet that notes quick changes and continuity points, and place each preset on numbered racks before the first tech rehearsal.
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Perform costume changeovers
+Run the quick changes for tonight: have Maya in the black coat and boots ready by Act II curtain, lay out…
Perform costume changeovers
+Run the quick changes for tonight: have Maya in the black coat and boots ready by Act II curtain, lay out backup shirt and shoes for Jamal at Stage Left, call for two dressers at five minutes and confirm continuity notes are on the rack.
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Wash costumes
+Schedule the wash cycle for the painted frock and three undergarments after tonight, use the delicate…
Wash costumes
+Schedule the wash cycle for the painted frock and three undergarments after tonight, use the delicate detergent and cold rinse, tag each item with the performer name, and note dry-clean only pieces so I can hand them to the cleaner tomorrow morning.
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Analyse a script
+Read the script for scene changes and list every character moment requiring a costume shift, flag complex…
Analyse a script
+Read the script for scene changes and list every character moment requiring a costume shift, flag complex multi-piece looks, estimate number of dressers needed per scene and attach continuity notes for the artistic director by Friday rehearsal.
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Follow directions of the artistic director
+Take the artistic director's blocking notes and update the dressing notes for each scene, listing who wears…
Follow directions of the artistic director
+Take the artistic director's blocking notes and update the dressing notes for each scene, listing who wears what, when to change, and any director comments so the dressers can execute without interrupting rehearsals.
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Ensure continuity in the styling of artists
+Walk the company with head dresser before tech, photograph each performer's outfit and record hair, makeup…
Ensure continuity in the styling of artists
+Walk the company with head dresser before tech, photograph each performer's outfit and record hair, makeup and prop placement so looks can be reproduced exactly during previews and run calls.
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Follow work schedule
+Read the production running order and produce a daily call sheet for the wardrobe team showing prerep times,…
Follow work schedule
+Read the production running order and produce a daily call sheet for the wardrobe team showing prerep times, preset times, show calls and who covers each quick change, send to the team before 18:00.
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Document costume stock
+Inventory every costume rack and accessories box after load-in, note sizes, damages and missing items on the…
Document costume stock
+Inventory every costume rack and accessories box after load-in, note sizes, damages and missing items on the master stock list so we can order repairs or replacements before first performance.
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Maintain costumes
+Schedule weekly maintenance checks, list each garment's required repairs, cleaning or pressing, assign tasks…
Maintain costumes
+Schedule weekly maintenance checks, list each garment's required repairs, cleaning or pressing, assign tasks to dressers and record completion so no costume fails during performances.
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Select costumes
+Pull the director's style brief and the role breakdown, assemble candidate outfits from stock and fittings,…
Select costumes
+Pull the director's style brief and the role breakdown, assemble candidate outfits from stock and fittings, photograph each option and present the best choices with notes for the director to approve.
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Says who?
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Activities this job lives in
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The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses