As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for costume design in North Carolina is $66,570, equivalent to $32 per hour, $1,280 weekly, or $5,548 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for costume design in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for costume design in North Carolina vary widely, spanning from $54,538 to $78,621. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($60,272) and 75th percentile ($72,878), while top earners (90th percentile) make $78,621 per year. This $12,606 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Collaboration or Product Development, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, North Carolina costume design often earn 5.0% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 66 companies. However, North Carolina currently ranks 36 nationwide for costume design job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
costume design Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile costume design Salary $54,538 NC August 01, 2026
25th Percentile costume design Salary $60,272 NC August 01, 2026
50th Percentile costume design Salary $66,570 NC August 01, 2026
75th Percentile costume design Salary $72,878 NC August 01, 2026
90th Percentile costume design Salary $78,621 NC August 01, 2026
25% $60,272 10% $54,538 90% $78,621 75% $72,878 $66,570 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out costume design jobs in North Carolina

Assistant Professor of Practice - Costume Design

Western Carolina University - Cullowhee, NC

Sales Representative/Design

Closets by Design Atlanta - PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA

Design Sales Consultant

Kitchen Tune-Up - ROSWELL, GA

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What is a costume design ?

Costume designers play a crucial role in the visual storytelling of film, television, theater, and other performance arts. They are responsible for creating the overall look of characters through clothing and accessories, ensuring that costumes align with the narrative, setting, and character development. The salary for costume designers can vary widely based on factors such as experience, location, and the scale of the production. Entry-level positions may start at a lower salary, while experienced designers working on major productions can earn significantly more. Freelance costume designe...

Source: (as of 06/04/2025). Read more from

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Aberdeen, NC Avg. Salary $68,312 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Advance, NC Avg. Salary $69,740 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Ahoskie, NC Avg. Salary $68,397 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alamance, NC Avg. Salary $69,927 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Albemarle, NC Avg. Salary $69,798 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Albertson, NC Avg. Salary $67,887 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alexander, NC Avg. Salary $69,304 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alexis, NC Avg. Salary $72,000 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Alliance, NC Avg. Salary $67,686 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Location Almond, NC Avg. Salary $68,164 Date Updated August 01, 2026
Job Openings for costume design in North Carolina

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    costume design

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Industrial Designer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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