As of September 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Costume Designer in District of Columbia is $78,069, equivalent to $38 per hour, $1,501 weekly, or $6,506 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Costume Designer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Costume Designer in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $63,964 to $92,203. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($70,686) and 75th percentile ($85,467), while top earners (90th percentile) make $92,203 per year. This $14,781 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, District of Columbia Costume Designer often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 22 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Costume Designer 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 Designer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Costume Designer Salary $63,964 DC September 01, 2026
25th Percentile Costume Designer Salary $70,686 DC September 01, 2026
50th Percentile Costume Designer Salary $78,069 DC September 01, 2026
75th Percentile Costume Designer Salary $85,467 DC September 01, 2026
90th Percentile Costume Designer Salary $92,203 DC September 01, 2026
25% $70,686 10% $63,964 90% $92,203 75% $85,467 $78,069 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Costume Designer ?

A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits/costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costume designer works alongside the director, scenic, lighting designer, sound designer, and other creative personnel. The costume designer may also collaborate with hair stylist, wig master, or makeup artist. In European theatre, the role is different, as the theatre designer usually designs both costume and scenic elements. Designers typically seek to enhance a...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $83,704 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $83,707 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $83,708 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $83,707 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Job Openings for Costume Designer in District of Columbia

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Costume Designer

    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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