ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Assistant Costume Designer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Lead Painter/Dyer

Ashland, OR · On-site

$33.20/hr

You'll collaborate with Costume Designers and production teams to translate artistic concepts into ... Share expertise, mentor colleagues, and assist Craft Artisans and Wardrobe & Hair as needed. Shop ...

New

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Lead Painter/Dyer

Ashland, OR · On-site

$33.20/hr

You'll collaborate with Costume Designers and production teams to translate artistic concepts into ... Share expertise, mentor colleagues, and assist Craft Artisans and Wardrobe & Hair as needed. Shop ...

New

All JobsCostume Designer JobsAssistant Costume Designer JobsAssistant Costume Designer Jobs in Oregon

Assistant Costume Designer information

See Oregon salary details

$11

$26

$41

How much do assistant costume designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant costume designer in Oregon is $26.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.34 and $30.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an assistant costume designer do?

The job of an assistant costume designer is to help a senior designer design costumes for a show at a theatre or on set. Common duties and responsibilities include making garments for the actors, research, and tracking the budget for the play or show. They may help with costume fittings and the various tasks associated with design. In some cases, an assistant costume designer may provide creative input for the costumes. They also work with the background actors and chorus members to select pieces and give feedback on wardrobe.

What does an assistant costume designer do?

An Assistant Costume Designer supports the Costume Designer in creating and organizing costumes for film, television, theater, or other productions. Their responsibilities include helping with research, sourcing materials, coordinating fittings, maintaining costume continuity, and overseeing wardrobe needs on set. They also assist in managing budgets, supervising costume staff, and ensuring costumes are ready on time for rehearsals and performances. This role requires creativity, attention to detail, and strong organizational skills to keep everything running smoothly.

What are the typical responsibilities of an assistant costume designer during a production?

As an Assistant Costume Designer, your daily tasks often include supporting the lead Costume Designer with research, sourcing materials, organizing fittings, and managing the costume budget. You'll collaborate closely with tailors, wardrobe supervisors, and performers to ensure costumes are accurate, functional, and ready on time. The role can be fast-paced, especially during tech rehearsals and performances, requiring strong organizational skills and adaptability. Your input is also valuable during creative discussions and problem-solving on set or backstage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an assistant costume designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Costume Designer, you need a solid understanding of costume history, garment construction, and fabric knowledge, often supported by a degree in fashion, costume design, or a related field. Familiarity with design software like Adobe Photoshop, sewing machines, and budgeting or inventory management systems is typically required. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with designers and production teams. These abilities are crucial for ensuring costumes are delivered on time, meet creative visions, and support the smooth running of theater, film, or television productions.

What is the difference between Assistant Costume Designer vs Costume Designer?

AspectAssistant Costume DesignerCostume Designer
CredentialsRelevant fashion or costume design education, experience assisting in productionsAdvanced experience, portfolio, possibly a degree in costume design or related field
Work EnvironmentAssist in costume planning, sourcing, and fittings under supervisionLead the design process, make creative decisions, oversee costume construction
Industry UsageCommonly employed in film, theater, TV productions as support rolePrimary role responsible for overall costume design and concept

The Assistant Costume Designer supports the Costume Designer by handling tasks like sourcing fabrics, organizing fittings, and assisting with costume construction. The Costume Designer is responsible for creating the overall costume concept, making design decisions, and leading the costume department. Both roles require relevant experience and work in similar environments, but the Assistant Costume Designer typically works under supervision while the Costume Designer leads the creative process.

More about Assistant Costume Designer jobs

What job categories do people searching Assistant Costume Designer jobs in Oregon look for?

The top searched job categories for Assistant Costume Designer jobs in Oregon are:

Assistant Costume Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Costume Designer job openings in Oregon as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,157 per year, or $26 per hour.

Wardrobe and Hair Manager

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Ashland, OR • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Manages wardrobe and hair personnel, including but not limited to:
  • Oversees Wardrobe Supervisor and Hair & Wig Supervisors who create work assignments and manages the day-to-day schedule and workflow.
  • Provides materials and equipment needed for wardrobe and hair personnel to successfully open, run, and close a show.
  • Ensures wardrobe and hair personnel understand and uphold OSF mission and values.
  • Ensures wardrobe and hair personnel understand and adhere to the company handbook, collective bargaining agreement, AEA guidelines and production department guidelines.
  • Ensures wardrobe and hair personnel understand and adhere to safety procedures, creating additional safety protocols when necessary.
  • Ensures regular inspections of hair salon and stations, adhering to HLO, Health Licensing Office regulations on safety, sanitization, and infection control.
  • Recruits, hires, conducts performance reviews, manages progressive discipline with P&C, and organizes the on-boarding and off-boarding processes for wardrobe and hair personnel.
  • Performs administrative tasks such as payroll, expense reports, and injury forms.

Exemplify respect and inclusion by:
  • Demonstrating and creating an environment where each employee is supported.
  • Maintaining a safe and anti-racist working environment.
  • Recognizing micro-aggressions and interrupting othering behaviors.
  • Operationalizing IDEA concepts into organized practice in systems, processes, and problem-solving techniques.
  • Collaborating with other managers to enforce safety policies and keeping up to date with required management-level training.

Manages the Wardrobe and Hair support of shows. Duties include and are not limited to:
  • Organizes and/or ensures organization of all wardrobe and hair functions for individual shows, including working technical rehearsals, troubleshooting, run crew documentation, and show reports.
  • Manages all Hair & Wig and understudy fittings with the Director of Stage Management.
  • Ensures design integrity and quality control of the costume and hair design throughout the season.
  • Ensures the maintenance and organization of wardrobe and hair spaces and equipment.
  • Ensures wardrobe and hair follow safety, sanitization, infection control of all workspaces; provides disinfectants and safety equipment.
  • Ensures Wig Leads and Key Stylist organize hair/wig inventory, pull, purchase, alter, or manufacture all wigs, hair styles, and facial hair as designed and approved by the Costume Designer. Supervises schedule for hair care and wig maintenance.
  • Collaborates with Costume Designer and Wig Leads to create show specific make-up.
  • Collaborates and communicates with the Costume Shop to balance the show requirements with OSF resources to meet show and performer needs safely and efficiently- regarding wig builds, quick changes, understudy fittings and wig fittings, and hair prep or style.
  • Develops and advocates for Wardrobe and Hair's annual labor, material, and capital budgets in the season budgeting process. Manages budgets throughout the year, keeping leadership apprised of any challenges.
  • Attends Production Meetings, show specific costume meetings; convenes department meetings and show specific wardrobe and hair meetings.
  • Participates and actively engages in Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.

Collaborates, coordinates, and communicates with many internal stakeholders about wardrobe and hair functions. Some examples include:
  • Costume and Wig Shop: regarding costume closure modifications and special care of costumes and wigs, resources, paperwork, load out schedule, cleaning and restoring costume rental items, and production transfers.
  • Collaborates and resolves pre-show schedule for hair prep and dressing order, quick change choreography, and on-stage pre-sets.
  • Stage Management: regarding AEA updates, run crew assignment needs, and show breakdowns; keeping apprised changes to entrances/exit locations and run times; collaborating closely with quick changes prioritizing crew and actor safety, and specific needs for any given performance, understudy fittings, etc.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Responds to after-hours emergencies and participates in emergency response teams.
  • Assist in maintenance, transportation, and cleaning of show and rehearsal costumes, including dry cleaning, as needed
  • Emergency understudy during the run of shows.
  • Represents OSF at organizational functions and conferences when requested.
  • Advises and/or leads facility maintenance and improvement projects as appropriate.
  • Assist Development and Marketing departments (for example, occasional donor events or creating content re: quick changes for social media outlets).
  • Other duties as assigned by Costume Director.

Supervision Received:
Costume Director
Supervision Exercised:
Wardrobe Supervisor, Hair & Wig Supervisors, wardrobe and hair staff.
Required:
Education: High: School Graduate or equivalent.
Work Experience: 5 years of experience in professional theatrical wardrobe, preferably experience supervising projects and/or people in the entertainment industry.
Preferred:
  • Experience in using industrial and home sewing machines with a variety of fabrics.
  • Knowledge or ability to understand regulations detailed in OHA, Oregon Health Authority Cosmetology Safety and Sanitation rules.
  • Experience in wig building, wig fronting, dying lace, and with working various adhesive methods.
  • Experience in wig building and hair care of Black/African American and multi-textured hair.
  • Experience with special effects on-stage makeup and prosthetics supporting all skin tones and genders.

Qualifications/Skills:
  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
  • Ability to effectively address conflict and resolve in a professional manner in line with OSF's values.
  • Knowledge of costume periods, safe work practices, and understanding repertory calendars.
  • Thorough knowledge using computer software, including Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, SharePoint, and other cloud-based information sharing systems.
  • Proficient in quick-change choreography for run crew planning with both costumes and hair.
  • Demonstrate initiative and tenacity in short-term and long-term planning.
  • Ability to collaborate and behave in a productive manner with colleagues and staff.
  • Ability to adapt and flex to operational changes and new procedures.
  • Expertise in organization, time management, and decision making.
  • Excellent Inclusion, Equity, Diversity, and Access analysis and inclusive behavior:
  • Able to identify and dismantle work systems that uphold and promote systems of white supremacy; to re-envision and implement new systems that account for equity and promote inclusion in all areas of work.
  • Ability to approach relationships with colleagues and staff, particularly those belonging to underrepresented or historically marginalized groups, with an understanding that identity informs every individual's human experience in a way that may differ from their own personal experience.
  • Ability to communicate about body proportions, hair textures and styling, skin tones and identities using respectful and equitable language.

Physical Ability:
  • Lift and move costumes, wigs, and equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, climb stairs repeatedly, kneel, squat, and bend. Sit and stand for eight hours or more a day.

Special Hours Requirements:
  • Weekend and evening hours are regularly required. The standard work week is Tuesday - Sunday. Long hours are required, especially during technical rehearsals. The ability to respond to emergencies with little notice is required.

Preferred:
  • Experience working with unions and within the context of collective bargaining agreements. Attended EDI or anti-racist trainings. Experience working in a repertory environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Apply