Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC make a median of $48,380 a year, or about $23.26 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.49), which stretches that salary to about $54,673 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K get you in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton’s Regional Price Parity (88.49). 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
Pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,095/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in metros near Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $40K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
Entry-level fabric and apparel patternmakers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $29K 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 with published data
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fabric and apparel patternmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fabric and apparel patternmakers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,143/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $48K here vs. $63K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton compare to the national average for fabric and apparel patternmakers?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC?
The median is $48,380 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,710, and experienced fabric and apparel patternmakers can clear $64,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,228/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 33.9% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton?
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has a Regional Price Parity of 88.49 (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 fabric and apparel patternmakers salary is worth about $54,673 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.