Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers Salary
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers in Massachusetts make a median of $47,680 a year, or about $22.92 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $47,637 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 72.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in Massachusetts?
About fabric and apparel patternmakers
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Pay for fabric and apparel patternmakers in Massachusetts runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $63K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 74.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for fabric and apparel patternmakerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level fabric and apparel patternmakers (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers salary by metro in Massachusetts
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $56K | +16% | 30 |
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Track fabric and apparel patternmakers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fabric and apparel patternmaker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 74.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fabric and apparel patternmakers typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,589/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 91% 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 Massachusetts?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $48K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for fabric and apparel patternmakers?
Massachusetts pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do fabric and apparel patternmakers make in Massachusetts?
The median is $47,680 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,150, and experienced fabric and apparel patternmakers can clear $77,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,164/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 74.2% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (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 $47,637 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.