Career comparison
Costume Attendant vs. Garment Presser
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Costume attendants earn more at the median ($50,400 vs. $35,060), while costume attendants usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Costume attendants care for costumes and help performers change during shows and shoots. Garment pressers press and finish clothing and textiles at dry cleaners and factories.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Costume Attendant | Garment Presser | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,400 ($24.23/hr) | $35,060 ($16.85/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $32,150 – $109,520 | $27,180 – $43,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.9% (faster than average) | -15.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 1,700 | 2,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | IATSE wardrobe union | DLI training |
| Work setting | Attendants work backstage, on sets and in wardrobe shops.. | Pressers work at dry cleaners, laundries and garment plants.. |
What each job does
Costume Attendant
- Fit costumes
- Do quick changes
- Repair costumes
- Launder and press
- Track continuity
Garment Presser
- Press garments
- Use steam presses
- Hand-iron details
- Check for stains
- Fold and hang
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work. They sit in different fields, arts, media & design and mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing, but share transferable skills such as calm under pressure and attention to detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose costume attendant if…
- I love theater or film
- I can sew
- I stay calm under pressure
Choose garment presser if…
- I like neat results
- I don’t mind heat
- I can stand
Still torn? Take the Costume Attendant fit quiz and the Garment Presser fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, costume attendant or garment presser?
Costume Attendants earn more at the median: $50,400 versus $35,060 for garment pressers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Costume Attendants typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than garment pressers (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects costume attendants to grow +5.9% from 2025–35, compared with -15.7% for garment pressers.