Costume Attendants Salary
Costume Attendants in New York make a median of $95,230 a year, or about $45.78 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $96,966 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in New York?
About costume attendants
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for costume attendants, local pay runs about 89% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level costume attendants (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Costume Attendants salary by metro in New York
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $95K | +0% | 890 |
Compare to other states
Track costume attendants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a costume attendant afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for costume attendants in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new costume attendants typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,509/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is costume attendant a high-paying job in New York?
Local pay is 89% above the national median — $95K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for costume attendants?
New York pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +89%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do costume attendants make in New York?
The median is $95,230 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,810, and experienced costume attendants can clear $134,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,893/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 32.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a costume attendants salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median costume attendants salary is worth about $96,966 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do costume attendants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.