Costume Attendant salary in the U.S.
Costume Attendants in the U.S. earn a median of $50,400 a year ($24.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,510 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,520 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,440, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for costume attendants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| 25th percentile | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Median | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| 75th percentile | $77,680 | $37.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,520 | $52.66 |
| Average (mean) | $63,440 | $30.50 |
Half of costume attendants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,200 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,100 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,938.46 |
| Weekly | $969.23 |
| Hourly | $24.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Costume Attendant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $95,230 | 950 |
| Georgia | $94,890 | 100 |
| California | $72,030 | 1,620 |
| Washington | $64,650 | 120 |
| Colorado | $57,960 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $57,660 | 30 |
| Nevada | $55,640 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $55,190 | 90 |
| District of Columbia | $53,290 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $52,000 | 80 |
| Oregon | $51,680 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,270 | 260 |
| Illinois | $49,170 | 140 |
| Utah | $47,850 | 140 |
| Virginia | $46,790 | 40 |
| Ohio | $46,330 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $45,220 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $45,010 | 100 |
| Connecticut | $44,550 | 60 |
| Missouri | $40,800 | 110 |
| Florida | $40,680 | 670 |
| Wisconsin | $38,470 | 160 |
| Arizona | $37,430 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $37,240 | 40 |
| Alabama | $35,910 | 50 |
| Indiana | $34,160 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $33,920 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $33,510 | 50 |
| Michigan | $31,920 | 80 |
| Texas | $28,440 | 550 |
Best-paying metro areas for costume attendants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,810 | 1,210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $95,230 | 890 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $94,900 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $69,930 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $65,460 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,420 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,260 | 80 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $56,690 | 350 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,000 | 70 |
| Columbus, OH | $55,310 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $52,000 | 70 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $51,280 | 80 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $50,020 | n/a |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,660 | 70 |
| Lancaster, PA | $49,600 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most costume attendants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,210 | $106,810 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 890 | $95,230 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 540 | $43,780 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 350 | $56,690 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 210 | $45,750 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 120 | $49,180 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 120 | $59,420 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 110 | $65,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 90 | $43,620 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 80 | $26,380 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 80 | $59,260 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 80 | $51,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 70 | $94,900 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 70 | $56,000 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 70 | $40,440 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $36,310 | $17.46 |
| Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other | $32,640 | $15.69 |
| Motion Picture Projectionist | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-3092. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a costume attendant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for costume attendants in the U.S. is $50,400 a year, or $24.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid costume attendants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of costume attendants in the U.S. earn at least $109,520 a year. The top 25% earn $77,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for costume attendants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,150 a year, and a quarter of costume attendants earn $38,610 or less.
How many costume attendants work in the U.S.?
About 6,510 costume attendants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.