Selects and puts together clothing and accessories for photo shoots, ads, music videos, events, and celebrity appearances. BLS does not publish separate figures for costume attendants; it counts them within costume attendant (SOC 39-3092), whose median pay is $50,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 39-3092
- Personal Care and Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Fashion Stylist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $50,400a year, or $24.23/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $32KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,7006,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.6K
- Projected 20357K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.6K Projected 2035 7K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school10.4%
- High school32.2%
- Certificate7.5%
- Some college14.9%
- Associate's3.9%
- Bachelor's29.6%
Highest education held by costume attendants Segment Value Less than high school 10.4% High school 32.2% Certificate 7.5% Some college 14.9% Associate's 3.9% Bachelor's 29.6%
Also advertised as: Wardrobe Stylist, Editorial Stylist, Commercial Stylist, Celebrity Stylist, Costume Stylist.
Pay
How much do Costume Attendants make?
Every fashion stylist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$50,400
Middle half earn $38,610 to $77,680
- 10th
- $32,150
- 25th
- $38,610
- 75th
- $77,680
- 90th
- $109,520
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $32,150 |
| 25th | $38,610 |
| Median | $50,400 |
| 75th | $77,680 |
| 90th | $109,520 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $50,400
- Median hourly wage
- $24.23/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,440
- People employed
- 6,510
Versus all US occupations
At $50,400, the median for Costume Attendants sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus personal care and service occupations
Inside the Personal Care and Service group, where the middle occupation pays $38,120, this is 32% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $109,520 or more while the bottom 10% earn $32,150, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 22% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New York posts the highest raw median ($95,230), but once local prices are taken into account Georgia leads at $98,543 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Costume Attendants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $95,230 | $88,240 | 950 |
| 2Georgia | $94,890 | $98,543 | 100 |
| 3California | $72,030 | $65,056 | 1,620 |
| 4Washington | $64,650 | $60,413 | 120 |
| 5Colorado | $57,960 | $56,243 | 40 |
| 6Hawaii | $57,660 | $52,442 | 30 |
| 7Nevada | $55,640 | $55,652 | 390 |
| 8Massachusetts | $55,190 | $52,186 | 90 |
| 9District of Columbia | $53,290 | $48,489 | 60 |
| 10Minnesota | $52,000 | $52,727 | 80 |
Job outlook
Is Fashion Stylist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Costume Attendants | +5.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Costume Attendants to change 5.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,700 openings are projected each year, 25.8% of the 6,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Fashion Stylist
No degree is required, though many stylists study fashion design, merchandising, or styling at schools such as the Fashion Institute of Technology. The real training is assisting an established stylist, which teaches showroom etiquette, how to handle loaned garments, and how a set runs. Stylists who work on union film, television, and commercial productions may join a costume local of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Newcomers build a portfolio through test shoots with photographers and models, assist on as many jobs as possible, and then seek representation by an agency once their book is strong.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as costume attendants.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)32.2%
- Bachelor's Degree29.6%
- Some College Courses14.9%
- Less than a High School Diploma10.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 32.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 29.6% |
| Some College Courses | 14.9% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 10.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 7.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Fashion Stylist do?
A fashion stylist creates the clothing looks you see in magazines, ads, catalogs, music videos, and on red carpets. Working from a creative brief, they research references, pull clothes and accessories from designers' showrooms, rental houses, and stores, and fit them on models or talent.
On set, stylists dress talent, pin and clip garments so they photograph well, steam and maintain clothes, and adjust looks with the photographer and creative director. Afterward they return pulled items, track loans, and manage budgets and receipts. Celebrity stylists also plan looks for tours, premieres, and press, building relationships with designers and publicists.
Day-to-day tasks
- Research references and plan looks from a creative brief
- Pull clothing and accessories from showrooms, stores, and rental houses
- Fit garments on models and talent before shoots
- Dress talent on set and adjust looks for the camera
- Steam, pin, and maintain garments during shoots
- Track loaned items, returns, and budgets
- Build relationships with designers, publicists, and photographers
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Fashion stylists work in photo studios, on location, on film and video sets, and in showrooms and stores pulling clothes. Most are freelancers, so work is irregular and income can vary widely from month to month. Days are long and physical, with heavy garment bags and lots of travel around the city.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Writing2.5
- Active Learning2.5
- Learning Strategies1.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 1.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Service Orientation2.9
- Persuasion2.8
- Negotiation2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Instructing2.5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Negotiation | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Instructing | 2.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Internet browser software
- Inventory management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Fashion Stylist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code AER) built on O*NET's Costume Attendant profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Fashion Stylist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 6 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Artistic5.7
- Conventional4.3
- Realistic4.2
- Enterprising3.6
- Social3.3
- Investigative1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Fashion Stylist
O*NET related occupations
- Personal Care and Service
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Production
Tailor, Dressmaker, and Custom Sewer
$41,640median a year
Most earn $30K to $64K
−8.8%No formal credential - Personal Care and Service
Makeup Artist, Theatrical and Performance
$97,150median a year
Most earn $23K to $167K
+6.1%Certificate - Production
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More personal care and service careers
Median annual pay, with costume attendants highlighted
- Fashion Stylist$50,400
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$47,160
- Concierge$38,950
- Tour Guide and Escort$38,120
- Hairstylist$35,790
- Manicurist and Pedicurist$35,760
- Nanny$34,980
- Childcare Worker$34,980
- Gambling Dealer$34,320
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Fashion Stylist | $50,400 |
| Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 |
| Concierge | $38,950 |
| Tour Guide and Escort | $38,120 |
| Hairstylist | $35,790 |
| Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 |
| Nanny | $34,980 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Fashion Stylist appears on
Questions
Fashion Stylist: frequently asked questions
How much do Costume Attendants make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for costume attendants. It counts them within costume attendant, whose median pay is $50,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $38,610 and $77,680, and the top 10% earn $109,520 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Fashion Stylist?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Costume Attendants. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 32.2% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Fashion Stylist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Fashion Stylist do?
A fashion stylist creates the clothing looks you see in magazines, ads, catalogs, music videos, and on red carpets. A typical task: research references and plan looks from a creative brief. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Costume Attendants the most?
The highest state medians for Costume Attendants are New York ($95,230), Georgia ($94,890), California ($72,030) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Georgia moves to the top at $98,543.
What personality type suits a Fashion Stylist?
O*NET scores Costume Attendants highest on the Artistic, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.