Patternmakers: Salary Overview
Patternmakers draw and construct master fabric patterns or layouts that are later used in fabricating clothing, accessories, furniture, and other products.
Their job description and earnings are directly influenced by their specialty and the type of products they work with.
Those who work with wood products typically plan, layout, and construct sectional patterns and wooden units that are later used for creating sand molds while patternmakers of metal and plastic products layout, machine, fit, and assemble plastic or metal foundry patterns.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for patternmakers of fabric and apparel was $45,070 as of May 2019, which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
This also tells us that more than half of all workers in this occupation earned more than the national average across all occupations- which in 2019 was $39,810, according to BLS.
The median annual wage for patternmakers of wood products was $64,880 while those who work with metal and plastic products reportedly made $46,910 per year.
Salaries also vary depending on other factors, including the level of experience, education, skills, certifications, the industry of employment, and the region.
For example, the bottom 10 percent of patternmakers of fabric and apparel reportedly made less than $23,480 per year, as of May 2019 while the top 10 percent made more than $94,980.
Salaries for patternmakers of wood products varied between less than $38,000 and more than $85,000 per year while those who worked with plastic and metal products earned salaries that ranged between less than $28,000 and more than $70,000
The 25th percentile for this profession was $30,660, which means that most workers in this profession (75 percent) earned more than this amount.
As shown below, earnings vary widely depending on the industry of employment and some sectors offered higher than average salaries while others offered salaries that were closer to the 25th percentile.
Patternmaker Salary by Industry
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most patternmakers of fabric and apparel worked for manufacturers of cut and sew apparel and for manufacturers of furniture and related products.
The average annual wage reported by patternmakers who worked in the field of cut and sew manufacturing was $55,000 as of May 2019 while those who worked for manufacturers of furniture and related products reportedly made $43,680 per year.
The mean annual wage was significantly higher for patternmakers who worked in the field of management of companies and enterprises- a sector where the average annual wage reported by workers in this profession was $77,220.
Patternmakers employed by wholesalers of apparel, piece goods, and notions earned $68,620 while those who worked for clothing stored reported salaries that averaged at $55,190 per year.
Other sectors where patternmakers may find employment are specialized design services and textile product mills.
The average salary was $57,900 for patternmakers in specialized design services and $36,710 for those who were employed by other textile product mills.
Salaries for wood patternmakers and plastic and metal patternmakers also vary depending on the industry of employment.
Patternmakers who worked for manufacturers of furniture and related products reportedly made $58,570 per year as of May 2019 while those who worked for manufacturers of fabricated metal parts earned $74,170 per year.
Salaries for this profession also vary depending on the region and the state of employment.
The report published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the highest average annual wage was reported by fabric and apparel patternmakers in New York, a state where workers reportedly earned $75,020 per year, on average.
Other top-paying states are California, Texas, and Minnesota.
In these states mean salaries were in the $50,000-$60,000 range.
Lower-than-average annual wages were reported by patternmakers in Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio, and Utah.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Patternmakers. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.