Production · Holland code RAC
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Also called: Designer, Pattern Designer, Pattern Maker, Production Pattern Maker, Cutter, Fabric Cutter, Pattern Technician, Sewing Pattern Layout Technician.
O*NET 51-6092.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $62,750
- Middle half earn $42,620 to $93,930. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 41% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 3 of 5
- Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices.
- Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting.
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments.
- Make adjustments to patterns after fittings.
- Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material.
- Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions.
- Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns.
- Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.8 / 5
- Active Listening3.4 / 5
- Reading Comprehension3.1 / 5
- Speaking3.1 / 5
- Mathematics3.1 / 5
- Active Learning3.1 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Design4.2 / 5
- Mathematics4.0 / 5
- English Language3.9 / 5
- Production and Processing3.9 / 5
- Education and Training3.4 / 5
- Engineering and Technology2.9 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic78
- Investigative6
- Artistic73
- Social5
- Enterprising8
- Conventional53
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- clothing fashion designer · DE Modedesigner Bekleidung/Modedesignerin Bekleidung · FR styliste
- textile designer · DE Textildesigner/Textildesignerin · FR designer textile/designeuse textile
- clothing CAD technician · DE CAD-Fachkraft Bekleidung · FR technicien modéliste CAO-DAO/technicienne modéliste CAO-DAO
- clothing CAD patternmaker · DE CAD-Schnitt-, Entwurfs- und Fertigungsmodelleur/CAD-Schnitt-, Entwurfs- und Fertigungsdirektrice · FR patronnier CAO/patronnière CAO
- clothing cutter · DE Zuschneider (Bekleidung)/Zuschneiderin (Bekleidung) · FR coupeur tailleur/coupeuse tailleuse
- clothing product grader · DE Schnittgradierer/Schnittgradiererin · FR patronnier gradeur/patronnière gradeuse
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Clothing, fashion and accessories designers (3422)18,300 employed
- CAD, drawing and architectural technicians (3120)54,900 employed
- Sewing machinists (8146)19,100 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €40,086 |
| Germany | €38,638 |
| Austria | €38,194 |
| Sweden | €37,856 |
| Netherlands | €37,077 |
| Ireland | €36,098 |
| France | €27,145 |
| Italy | €26,488 |
| Spain | €22,817 |
| Portugal | €11,142 |
| Poland | €10,099 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the middle third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.08. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-6092).
Related careers
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