Jobs Similar to Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to fabric and apparel patternmakers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Mechanical Drafters, Commercial and Industrial Designers and Prepress Technicians and Workers.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers: $62,750 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mechanical Drafters | 74% | $71,550+14% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Commercial and Industrial Designers | 72% | $83,910+34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Prepress Technicians and Workers | 71% | $48,690−22% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Electrical and Electronics Drafters | 71% | $76,870+23% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 70% | $55,490−12% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Costume Attendants | 69% | $50,400−20% | High school |
| 7 | Mechanical Engineers | 68% | $104,110+66% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Sewers, HandSame group | 68% | $36,480−42% | High school |
| 9 | Model Makers, Wood | 68% | $56,550−10% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 68% | $41,600−34% | High school |
| 11 | Desktop Publishers | 67% | $55,290−12% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic | 67% | $58,000−8% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Mechatronics Engineers | 67% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Materials Engineers | 67% | $112,860+80% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 67% | $38,020−39% | High school |
| 16 | Validation Engineers | 66% | $102,440Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Film and Video Editors | 66% | $75,420+20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | 66% | $46,170Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 19 | Architectural and Civil Drafters | 66% | $66,150+5% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 65% | $48,570−23% | High school |
- 1Mechanical Drafters
74% similar · $71,550 (+14%) · Training or associate
- 2Commercial and Industrial Designers
72% similar · $83,910 (+34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Prepress Technicians and Workers
71% similar · $48,690 (−22%) · Training or associate
- 4Electrical and Electronics Drafters
71% similar · $76,870 (+23%) · Training or associate
- 5Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
70% similar · $55,490 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 6Costume Attendants
69% similar · $50,400 (−20%) · High school
- 7Mechanical Engineers
68% similar · $104,110 (+66%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Sewers, Hand
68% similar · $36,480 (−42%) · High school · Same group
- 9Model Makers, Wood
68% similar · $56,550 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 10Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
68% similar · $41,600 (−34%) · High school
- 11Desktop Publishers
67% similar · $55,290 (−12%) · Training or associate
- 12Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
67% similar · $58,000 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 13Mechatronics Engineers
67% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Materials Engineers
67% similar · $112,860 (+80%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
67% similar · $38,020 (−39%) · High school
- 16Validation Engineers
66% similar · $102,440 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Film and Video Editors
66% similar · $75,420 (+20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
66% similar · $46,170 (broader group) · High school
- 19Architectural and Civil Drafters
66% similar · $66,150 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 20Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
65% similar · $48,570 (−23%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than fabric and apparel patternmakers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Costume Attendants69% similar · High school
- Sewers, Hand68% similar · High school
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers68% similar · High school
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand67% similar · High school
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing66% similar · High school
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers65% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for fabric and apparel patternmakers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where fabric and apparel patternmakers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic (77)
- Costume Attendants (74)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (74)
- Mechanical Drafters (72)
- Model Makers, Wood (72)
- Prepress Technicians and Workers (71)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (70)
- Craft Artists (70)
- Patternmakers, Wood (69)
- Fashion Designers (68)
Questions about jobs like fabric and apparel patternmakers
What jobs are most similar to fabric and apparel patternmakers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Mechanical Drafters (74% similar), Commercial and Industrial Designers (72% similar), Prepress Technicians and Workers (71% similar), Electrical and Electronics Drafters (71% similar) and Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (70% similar).
Which jobs like fabric and apparel patternmakers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Materials Engineers ($112,860, +80%; usually a bachelor's degree), Mechanical Engineers ($104,110, +66%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Commercial and Industrial Designers ($83,910, +34%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with fabric and apparel patternmakers ($62,750). Without more preparation than fabric and apparel patternmakers usually need: Electrical and Electronics Drafters, Mechanical Drafters and Architectural and Civil Drafters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.