# Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fabric-and-apparel-patternmakers
- SOC code: 51-6092.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $62,750 (10th percentile $33,790, 90th percentile $123,540)
- Projected growth: Decline, -15.0%
- Openings a year: 200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RAC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 78 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 73 |
| Social (S) | 5 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 53 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 79/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 75/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Processing Information (importance 68/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 68/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 67/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Active Learning, Mathematics, Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Speaking

## Knowledge

Design, Mathematics, English Language, Production and Processing, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Mechanical, Administrative

## Also called

Apparel Patternmaker, Clothing Pattern Preparer, Clothing Patternmaker, Computer Patternmaker, Cutter, Designer, Draper, Embroidery Operator, Embroidery Patternmaker, Fabric Cutter

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Apparel and Textiles](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1909) (CIP 1909, 135 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Apparel and Textiles | $60,834 | $94,967 | not reported |
| [Indiana University-Bloomington Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-bloomington-main-campus-1277) | Apparel and Textiles | $53,936 | $77,520 | $19,384 |
| [University of Delaware](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-delaware-2905) | Apparel and Textiles | $53,050 | $76,595 | $27,000 |
| [Utah State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/utah-state-university-3102) | Apparel and Textiles | $56,150 | $74,686 | $12,500 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Apparel and Textiles | $59,432 | $71,922 | $18,500 |
| [Fashion Institute of Technology FIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fashion-institute-of-technology-fit-942) | Apparel and Textiles | $48,197 | $71,139 | $20,000 |
| [Ohio State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-state-university-main-campus-2000) | Apparel and Textiles | $49,266 | $66,256 | $19,500 |
| [University of Kentucky](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-kentucky-2932) | Apparel and Textiles | $39,506 | $66,255 | $19,500 |

## Related careers

- [Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/patternmakers-metal-and-plastic): $58,000 median pay
- [Sewers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewers-hand): $36,480 median pay
- [Patternmakers, Wood](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/patternmakers-wood): $49,630 median pay
- [Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/tailors-dressmakers-and-custom-sewers): $41,640 median pay
- [Fashion Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fashion-designers): $80,960 median pay
- [Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/layout-workers-metal-and-plastic): $63,870 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.