Annual Salary
£18,000 to £30,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Pattern cutters create pattern templates based on drawings from a fashion designer to make clothes.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; occasionally
There will be
4.8% fewer Pattern cutter jobs in 2027.
In your day-to-day duties you may:
You could work in a workshop, in a factory or in a creative studio.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in fashion or garment technology.
You'll usually need:
You could do a college course, for example:
You'll usually need:
You can do a material cutter intermediate apprenticeship, or fashion and textiles pattern cutter advanced apprenticeship.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a pattern cutting assistant or sample machinist with a clothing manufacturer or fashion design company and work your way up.
You can do short courses in pattern cutting through university fashion departments, colleges and adult education centres.
To get onto courses and find jobs, you'll need a portfolio of your work to show off your skills and creative ideas.
You may find it useful to join The Textile Institute for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can get more information on working in creative industries from Discover Creative Careers.
You could become head pattern cutter or grader or, with further training, move into fashion design or buying.
You'll need: