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Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 51-6092 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$62,754
$30.17/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026

Is this a competitive Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers salary in 2026?

Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS August 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.

$Competitive · ~P50
P10$34K
P25$43K
P50$63K
P75$94K
P90$124K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
⚡
Demand: ACTIVE. Demand is active -- manufacturing openings are at 4.0% (JOLTS, August 2026). A balanced market where the median is a solid, competitive anchor.
📈
Merit budget: Wages in manufacturing are rising about 3.3% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 2.9-3.4% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $62,754 to $93,933 (market median to the 75th percentile). The median-to-P75 range keeps offers competitive.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.

How Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers pay is moving in 2026

Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI

Pay trend

Median pay for this role fell 7.3% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, trailing the 3.3% wage growth of Manufacturing (BLS ECI).

Hiring demand · MODERATE

Manufacturing is running a 4.0% job-openings rate with quits at 1.6% (BLS JOLTS). The openings rate has held near 4.0% over the past quarter.

Pay spread

Top earners (P90) make about 3.7 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.

What changed recently
  • Sep 29, 2026JOLTS August 2026: sector openings eased to 4.0% (down 54K) after July's durable-goods jump, which held at 4.4% on revision. Quits rose to 1.6%, led by nondurable goods.
  • Sep 1, 2026JOLTS July 2026: sector openings jumped to 4.4% (up 79K), all of it in durable goods, the biggest sector move this release. Quits eased to 1.4%.
  • Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings eased to 3.7%, with nondurable goods driving the pullback. Quits steady at 1.5%.

Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS August 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.

Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is $62,754 per year ($30.17/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $42,619 and $93,933 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $123,531 per year. There are approximately 2,950 fabric and apparel patternmakers employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-10.2%
Much slower than average
Annual openings
300
per year, on avg
Workforce today
3K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
NAICS 315200
1K$63,760
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers
NAICS 458100
400N/A
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
390$102,340
Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers
NAICS 424300
370$89,010
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only)
NAICS 3370A1
200$55,480
Wage range across top 5 industries: $55,480 to $102,340 (84% spread)

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$16.25$33,800
P25$20.49$42,619
P50MEDIAN$30.17$62,754
P75$45.16$93,933
P90$59.39$123,531

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.0%
Quits Rate
1.6%

Manufacturing openings fell 54K to 522K in August, rate 4.0%, giving back part of July's durable-goods jump (July held at 4.4% on revision). Quits rose to 1.6%, led by nondurable goods (+28K), so turnover is starting to follow demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average fabric and apparel patternmakers salary?

The national median salary for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is $62,754 per year ($30.17/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $42,619 and $93,933 annually.

How much do top-earning fabric and apparel patternmakers make?

The 90th percentile salary for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is $123,531 per year ($59.39/hr). The 75th percentile is $93,933 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for fabric and apparel patternmakers?

Entry-level Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers (10th percentile) earn approximately $33,800 per year ($16.25/hr). The 25th percentile is $42,619 per year.

Related Salary Data

Compare with other occupations
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Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
California930 workersNew York670 workersFlorida380 workersNorth Carolina270 workersTexas70 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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