ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Costume Design Teacher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Teach Costume Design Assistants and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Teach Costume Design Assistants and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern ...

Canyons School District

$89.24 - $121.64/hr

Teach Fundamentals of Costume Design, or future technical classes such as make-up, color and design, or general theatre classes as understanding theatre, lecture and/or lab. * There may be ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsManufacturing JobsGarments JobsFashion Designer JobsCostume Design Teacher Jobs

Costume Design Teacher information

See salary details

$48K

$59.3K

$76K

How much do costume design teacher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for costume design teacher in the United States is $59,291.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $62,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a costume design teacher?

Costume Design Teachers are educators who specialize in teaching students about the art and craft of designing costumes for theater, film, television, and other performance arts. They instruct students on topics such as costume history, fabric selection, construction techniques, and design principles. These teachers often have professional experience in costume design and guide students through both the creative and technical aspects of the field, preparing them for careers in the industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a costume design teacher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Costume Design Teacher, you need expertise in costume construction, fashion history, and design principles, usually supported by a degree in costume or fashion design and teaching credentials. Familiarity with industry-standard design software (such as Adobe Creative Suite), sewing machines, and pattern-making tools is typically required. Strong communication, creativity, and the ability to inspire and mentor students are standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are essential for effectively educating students, fostering creativity, and preparing them for careers in costume design.

What are some common challenges faced by costume design teachers, and how can they be addressed in the classroom?

Costume Design Teachers often encounter challenges such as balancing creative freedom with curriculum standards, managing limited budgets for materials, and addressing varying skill levels among students. To address these, successful teachers foster an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, encourage resourcefulness with materials, and provide differentiated instruction to meet diverse learning needs. Collaborating with theater departments and local professionals can also enhance learning experiences and help overcome resource constraints.

What is the difference between Costume Design Teacher vs Costume Designer?

AspectCostume Design TeacherCostume Designer
CredentialsDegree in costume design, theater, or related field; teaching certification often preferredDegree in costume design, fashion, or related field; professional portfolio essential
Work EnvironmentEducational institutions, classrooms, workshopsFilm, theater, television productions, fashion shows
Employer & IndustrySchools, colleges, universitiesProduction companies, theaters, fashion houses
Primary FocusTeaching costume design techniques and theoryCreating and designing costumes for productions or clients

While both roles involve costume design skills, a Costume Design Teacher focuses on educating students about costume creation, whereas a Costume Designer actively creates costumes for productions. The roles differ mainly in their work environment and primary responsibilities, though both require a strong background in costume design and related credentials.

More about Costume Design Teacher jobs

What cities are hiring for Costume Design Teacher jobs?

Cities with the most Costume Design Teacher job openings:

What states have the most Costume Design Teacher jobs?

States with the most job openings for Costume Design Teacher jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Costume Design Teacher jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Costume Design Teacher jobs are:

Costume Design Teacher jobs near you
Infographic showing various Costume Design Teacher job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,291 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Costume Designer

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking a Costume Designer to lead the design and execution of wardrobe across all characters, from leads to crowds, ensuring visual consistency throughout our film. As a key member of the art leadership team, the role will collaborate closely with the Director, Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and report directly to the studio's Head of Costume Design.
This position is responsible for defining and maintaining the film's distinctive visual style through clothing, hairstyles, and accessories while finding innovative and researched ways to enhance character performance, express personality, and elevate the storytelling.
The ideal candidate combines strong creative vision with deep technical expertise in garment construction, tailoring, fabrics, and sewing techniques. The Costume Designer will play a pivotal role in mentoring and guiding the broader team, providing clear instruction on costume preparation and packeting from both a costume and visual development perspective.
Previous experience as a visual development artist in animation is required.
Responsibilities
  • Design and develop the visual style for all costumes on a film by understanding the Director's overall vision for the story, character development, and visual tone
  • Partner with other art leadership (Production Designers, Art Directors, and Lead Character Designers) to ensure world, characters, and costumes are cohesive and elevate overall storytelling
  • Drive costume research in support of the films vision and provide findings to the broader team
  • Visually explore research by pitching, iterating, adapting, and designing
  • Create multiple iterations of each main character's costume from rough pass to final design and use these iterations to later inform all other costumes from secondary, tertiary, and crowds
  • Provide and share expertise on clothing styles, fabrics, fabrication techniques, and patterns to align with the narratives, character, and show designs
  • Art Direct asset building teams to fulfil costume pipeline
  • Oversee Costume Design Assistants; distribute assignments, make corrections, give notes, track delivery dates and production deadlines, and overall be a teacher and mentor
  • Teach Costume Design Assistants and Visual Development Artists how to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream CG departments by instilling clarity on required information such as pattern cuttings, fabric swatches, draping, texture, color, silhouette, and pattern design
  • Champion a positive, collaborative, and inclusive team culture within the larger Production and Art team that promotes professionalism, creativity, and continuous improvement
  • Creative problem solving
  • Involvement in hiring and mentoring of costume design crew

Requirements
  • 8+ years of experience working as a visual development artist on animated projects and 1+ years working on costume designs in visual development, theater, live action, or related field
  • Education in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Toy Design, or Art preferred
  • Self-starter and organizer with the ability to drive all production needs keeping mind production pipeline and deadlines
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed costume packets for downstream animation departments that inform final design execution
  • Knowledge of and ability to teach costume terminology, methods, practices, and techniques such as textiles, fabric properties, and garment construction including pattern making and draping
  • Proficiency in drawing (including human and animal anatomy), design, perspective, composition, painting, lighting and color theory
  • Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
  • Experience working hands-on with fabrics
  • Previous experience leading a team
  • Requirement to be, or become, a member in good standing of the Animation Guild (Local 839)

The compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate's location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors. The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.

Apply