Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH make a median of $55,540 a year, or about $26.7 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $51,298 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month, about 80.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $56K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About fabric and apparel patternmakers
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What this looks like in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,941/month, which is 80.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for fabric and apparel patternmakerss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $101K | $90K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level fabric and apparel patternmakers (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $101K | +61% | 670 |
| California | $89K | +42% | 930 |
| Pennsylvania | $66K | +5% | 40 |
| Indiana | $59K | -5% | 50 |
| Missouri | $56K | -10% | 50 |
| Oregon | $56K | -11% | 30 |
| Ohio | $49K | -22% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -23% | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $48K | -24% | N/A |
| Virginia | $45K | -28% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $41K | -35% | 30 |
| Texas | $35K | -44% | 70 |
| Florida | $34K | -46% | 380 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fabric and apparel patternmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fabric and apparel patternmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 80.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fabric and apparel patternmakers typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,826/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 104% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fabric and apparel patternmaker a high-paying job in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $56K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for fabric and apparel patternmakers?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $55,540 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,100, and experienced fabric and apparel patternmakers can clear $80,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,657/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 80.4% 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 fabric and apparel patternmakers salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fabric and apparel patternmakers salary is worth about $51,298 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fabric and apparel patternmakers 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.