Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Wide pay band SOC 51-6092

Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

The published band from $33,790 to $123,540 is the distinctive signal for this role, not a twin of Power Distributors and Dispatchers.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) , Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters ($63K) , Gas Plant Operators ($88K) , First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers ($74K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-6092 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices
  2. 2. Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting
  3. 3. Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and ot…
  4. 4. Make adjustments to patterns after fittings
  5. 5. Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material
  6. 6. Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions
  7. 7. Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns
  8. 8. Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments
  9. 9. Position and cut out master or sample patterns, using scissors and knives, or print out copies of patterns, using computers
  10. 10. Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept
  11. 11. Discuss design specifications with designers, and convert their original models of garments into patterns of separate parts that can be l…
  12. 12. Examine sketches, sample articles, and design specifications to determine quantities, shapes, and sizes of pattern parts, and to determin…

O*NET skills and knowledge for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-6092 - entity-keyed; sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Critical Thinking 3.8
  2. 2. Active Listening 3.4
  3. 3. Judgment and Decision Making 3.3
  4. 4. Time Management 3.3
  5. 5. Reading Comprehension 3.1
  6. 6. Speaking 3.1
  7. 7. Mathematics 3.1
  8. 8. Active Learning 3.1

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Design 4.2
  2. 2. Mathematics 4.0
  3. 3. English Language 3.9
  4. 4. Production and Processing 3.9
  5. 5. Education and Training 3.4
  6. 6. Engineering and Technology 2.9
Published pay band (10th to 90th)
$33,790 to $123,540
median $62,750 · ~3.7× spread
$63K
National median
↓ -10%
Growth 2024-2034
300
Annual openings
2,950
Estimated US jobs
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Highest-pay peer · $107K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

1. Massachusetts $47,680
2. Virginia $45,390
3. Oregon $55,740
4. California $89,010
5. North Carolina $48,180
6. Pennsylvania $65,900
7. New York $101,230
8. Missouri $56,490
9. Indiana $59,400
10. Ohio $49,220

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Gas Plant Operators $87,820
  2. 2. Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters $62,620
  3. 3. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730
  4. 4. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,450
  5. 5. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers $96,710
  6. 6. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers $65,380

The OEWS band for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers runs from $33,790 (10th) to $123,540 (90th), about 3.7× wide, with median $62,750. That spread, not the midpoint alone, is the distinctive published fact.

Employment Projections expect -10% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 300 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Massachusetts at $47,680. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $106,730. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

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Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034.

Dive into Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in more depth or explore nearby career data.

Full Salary Details

State, metro, and percentile breakdown

Jobs in Massachusetts

Top-paying state for this role

Jobs in Virginia

Second-highest state pay

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Highest-pay peer · $107K

Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters

Lower-pay peer · $63K

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Highest-Paying Rankings

Top careers nationwide

Compare Side-by-Side

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Pay-band next reads

Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay

What percentile bands reveal

Using Salary Data for Negotiation

Leverage BLS percentiles

Frequently Asked Questions

What do fabric and apparel patternmakers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers. Leading ones include: Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices; Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting; Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and ot…; Make adjustments to patterns after fittings. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for fabric and apparel patternmakers? ▼
For SOC 51-6092, O*NET importance scores lead with Critical Thinking (3.8), Active Listening (3.4), Judgment and Decision Making (3.3), Time Management (3.3). Knowledge areas emphasize Design, Mathematics, English Language. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
How does Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers sit next to other Production Occupations titles? ▼
On this card, neighboring same-major-group titles include Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters, Gas Plant Operators, First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers. Among those peers, Power Distributors and Dispatchers holds the highest published national median ($106,730). Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters sits lower at $62,620. Peer titles are hash-ordered per card so adjacent SOC pages do not share an identical ladder.
What is the median salary for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers? ▼
The median salary for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers is $62,750 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS data). This means half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. The full range is $33,790 (10th percentile) to $123,540 (90th percentile). For context beside Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730), this role's median is the OEWS national figure above.
Is Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers a growing occupation? ▼
The BLS projects -10% employment change for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers from 2024 to 2034. There are approximately 300 projected annual openings. This is declining relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%.
What education do you need to become a fabric and apparel patternmakers? ▼
BLS assigns Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. These occupation-level categories are not requirements for every employer or worker.
Which states pay fabric and apparel patternmakers the most? ▼
The highest published state medians in this ranking for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers are Massachusetts ($47,680), Virginia ($45,390), Oregon ($55,740). The table does not identify why state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

All federal data sources used on this page
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - wage estimates by area + occupation. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - occupation task statements (importance-ranked). onetcenter.org
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) - quarterly employment and wage totals by industry. bls.gov/cew
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for metro/state aggregates. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) - monthly nonfarm payroll baselines. bls.gov/ces
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context. irs.gov/statistics
  • BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) - unemployment context for labor-market comparisons. bls.gov/lau