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Costume Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

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 ...

Svsu

Costume Designer

Campus, IL

Costume Designer Full or Part Time: Part time Hours: 20 Exempt: No Supervisory Org: Theater Staff (PM) JOB SUMMARY: The Department of Theatre at Saginaw Valley State University invites applications ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

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 ...

El Centro Milagro

Costume Designer

Portland, OR

$1.3K - $1.4K/yr

The Costume Designer will be able to access a generous costumestock, access to a sewing room and be provided with a decent budgetfor purchases. There will be collaboration with the directorand other ...

El Centro Milagro

Costume Designer

Portland, OR

The Costume Designer will be able to access a generous costumestock, access to a sewing room and be provided with a decent budgetfor purchases. There will be collaboration with the directorand other ...

Gallaudet University

Costume Designer

Washington, DC · On-site

$18.40/hr

Costume Designer Worker Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term) Pay Type: Hourly Exempt Status: No Supervisory Organization (Department): Student Engagement - JM Summary: Costume Designer designs the costume ...

Gallaudet

Costume Designer

Center, TX

$18.40/hr

Costume Designer Worker Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term) Pay Type: Hourly Exempt Status: No Supervisory Organization (Department): Student Engagement - JM Summary: Costume Designer designs the costume ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$67 - $75/hr

Skydance Animation is seeking an Associate Costume Designer to join the studio's Costume Department. Reporting to the Head of Costume Design, the Associate Costume Designer will expand upon and ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$67 - $75/hr

Skydance Animation is seeking an Associate Costume Designer to join the studio's Costume Department. Reporting to the Head of Costume Design, the Associate Costume Designer will expand upon and ...

The King's Academy

Theatre Costume Designer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$6.0K/yr

Job Title : Theatre Costume Designer Job Status : Part-Time, Seasonal Exempt Status : Non-Exempt, Piece Rate Department : Visual and Performing Arts Reports to : VPA Specialist Job Summary TKA is a ...

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Costume Designer information

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How much do costume designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for costume designer in the United States is $31.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $36.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a costume designer?

To thrive as a Costume Designer, you need a strong background in fashion design, fabric knowledge, and garment construction, usually supported by a degree in costume or fashion design. Familiarity with design software like Adobe Creative Suite and experience with costume budgeting and management systems are commonly required. Creativity, attention to detail, collaboration, and strong communication skills help Costume Designers effectively translate a director's vision and work with production teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering authentic, functional, and visually compelling costumes that enhance storytelling across theater, film, or television productions.

What is the difference between Costume Designer vs Wardrobe Stylist?

AspectCostume DesignerWardrobe Stylist
CredentialsFashion or costume design degree, portfolioFashion knowledge, styling experience
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, theater productionsPhotoshoots, celebrity styling, events
Industry UsageCreates costumes for charactersAdvises on wardrobe choices for clients
Search IntentDesigning costumes for productionsStyling outfits for appearances

While both roles involve fashion and clothing, a Costume Designer focuses on creating costumes for characters in entertainment productions, whereas a Wardrobe Stylist selects outfits to enhance a client's appearance for photoshoots, events, or public appearances. The roles differ mainly in their purpose and work environment, but both require a strong understanding of fashion and styling.

How do you get a job as a costume designer?

To become a costume designer, you typically need a bachelor's degree in fashion design, theater, or a related field, along with experience in costume construction and design. Building a portfolio, networking within the entertainment industry, and gaining experience through internships or assistant roles are essential steps to securing a position in this field.

What can I do with a costume designer degree?

A costume designer degree prepares individuals to create costumes for theater, film, television, and other performance arts. Graduates can work as costume designers, wardrobe supervisors, costume assistants, or in related roles such as costume illustrators or fabricators, often collaborating with directors and production teams. Skills in sewing, pattern making, and knowledge of textiles are essential, and experience with costume software can enhance job prospects.

What is a costume designer?

As a costume designer, your job is to buy, rent, or make costumes for actors. You discuss design choices with other staff members, sew new outfits from a pattern, decide what makes sense for the physical demands of a performance, and perform fittings to ensure each costume fits. Costume designers can work in a variety of fields, including movies, television, theatre, and other performing arts. In many cases, you spend time researching the fashion trends of the past, manage a costume budget, and interpret the producer's creative vision. You must also confirm when and where costumes need to change during a performance to ensure everyone has enough time to do so.

What are some common challenges costume designers face when collaborating with directors and other departments?

Costume designers often need to balance their creative vision with the expectations and practical needs of directors, producers, and other departments such as lighting and set design. Effective communication is key to ensuring costumes complement the overall aesthetic and function within the limitations of the production's budget and schedule. Navigating last-minute script changes or actor fittings can also be challenging, requiring flexibility and problem-solving skills. Building strong relationships and maintaining open dialogue with the team helps costume designers address these challenges and contribute to a cohesive production.
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Costume Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Costume Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,817 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Costume Designer

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 10 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.