Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
Occupation · SOC 51-6092.00
Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
Also called: Designer · Pattern Designer · Pattern Maker · Production Pattern Maker · Cutter · Fabric Cutter · Pattern Technician · Sewing Pattern Layout Technician · Technical Designer · Apparel Patternmaker · Clothing Pattern Preparer · Clothing Patternmaker
Job family: Production Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-51-6092-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- Declining employment outlook (-10.2% by 2034)
- 300 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $67,670/yr
- Can largely be done remotely (teleworkable)
45th-percentile task overlap — yet about 300 openings a year (-10.2% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate | 46th | -0.1 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High | 67th | 0.8 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 26th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.5), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.8). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
Most of this job's tasks can be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman), which tends to track with higher digital and AI exposure.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.0 · 4th percentile among occupations · Low
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Declining · -10.2% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 300 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 2,800 → 2,500 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers sits at the 21st percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure eased from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
17% mean task exposure (2025)
21st percentile of 427 placed occupations
−11 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Garment and Related Patternmakers and Cutters · 7532 | 17% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 16 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices. Core · importance 4.7
- Input specifications into computers to assist with pattern design and pattern cutting. Core · importance 4.6
- Draw details on outlined parts to indicate where parts are to be joined, as well as the positions of pleats, pockets, buttonholes, and other features, using computers or drafting instruments. Core · importance 4.5
- Make adjustments to patterns after fittings. Core · importance 4.5
- Compute dimensions of patterns according to sizes, considering stretching of material. Core · importance 4.5
- Mark samples and finished patterns with information, such as garment size, section, style, identification, and sewing instructions. Core · importance 4.4
- Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns. Core · importance 4.4
- Test patterns by making and fitting sample garments. Core · importance 4.4
- Position and cut out master or sample patterns, using scissors and knives, or print out copies of patterns, using computers. Core · importance 4.3
- Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept. Core · importance 4.3
- Discuss design specifications with designers, and convert their original models of garments into patterns of separate parts that can be laid out on a length of fabric. Core · importance 4.2
- Examine sketches, sample articles, and design specifications to determine quantities, shapes, and sizes of pattern parts, and to determine the amount of material or fabric required to make a product. Core · importance 4.1
- Determine the best layout of pattern pieces to minimize waste of material, and mark fabric accordingly. Core · importance 4.1
- Create design specifications to provide instructions on garment sewing and assembly. Core · importance 4.1
- Trace outlines of paper onto cardboard patterns, and cut patterns into parts to make templates. Core · importance 3.9
- Trace outlines of specified patterns onto material, and cut fabric, using scissors. Core · importance 3.8
Work activities
- Assemble garments or textile products.
- Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
- Design templates or patterns.
- Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces.
- Confer with customers or designers to determine order specifications.
- Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
- Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
- Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
- Construct patterns, templates, or other work aids.
- Cut fabrics.
- Program equipment to perform production tasks.
- Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Design | 4.2 | |
| Mathematics | 4.0 | |
| English Language | 3.9 | |
| Production and Processing | 3.9 | |
| Education and Training | 3.4 |
Abilities
| Visualization | 4.0 | |
| Near Vision | 4.0 | |
| Originality | 3.8 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.8 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.6 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.6 | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.6 | |
| Number Facility | 3.5 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.5 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.4 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.4 | |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.3 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.3 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.3 | |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.3 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.3 | |
| Written Expression | 3.1 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.1 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.1 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.1 | |
| Far Vision | 3.1 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.1 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.1 |
Essential skills
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Active Listening | 3.4 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.1 | |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Writing | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | |
| Time Management | 3.3 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Illustrator | Graphics or photo imaging software | Hot technology In demand |
| Adobe Photoshop | Graphics or photo imaging software | Hot technology In demand |
| Autodesk AutoCAD | Computer aided design CAD software | Hot technology In demand |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology In demand |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | Hot technology In demand |
| Adobe Creative Cloud software | Graphics or photo imaging software | Hot technology |
| Adobe InDesign | Desktop publishing software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | Hot technology |
| Gerber Technology AccuMark | Computer aided design CAD software | |
| PatternMaker | Computer aided design CAD software |
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 40.7% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 26.4% | |
| Some College Courses | 18.6% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 11.5% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 2.9% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 5.7 | |
| Artistic | 5.4 | |
| Conventional | 4.2 | |
| Enterprising | 1.4 |
Interest areas
| Applied Arts and Design | 5.5 | |
| Visual Arts | 4.4 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 2.5 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 2.2 | |
| Engineering | 1.9 | |
| Office Work | 1.5 | |
| Marketing/Advertising | 1.5 | |
| Information Technology | 1.4 |
Work styles
| Attention to Detail | 2.8 | |
| Dependability | 2.3 | |
| Cautiousness | 1.7 | |
| Innovation | 1.5 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $34,590 |
| 25th percentile | $44,110 |
| Median (50th) | $67,670 |
| 75th percentile | $91,080 |
| 90th percentile | $112,540 |
| People employed | 2,860 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing · Sector | 1,590 | $51,610 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 540 | $101,310 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 420 | $86,220 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 130 | $72,570 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 80 | $65,590 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 70 | $70,650 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 40 | $76,630 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector | 10.36× | 540 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 6.72× | 1,590 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 3.75× | 420 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 0.45× | 130 |
Related occupations
Part of the Advanced Manufacturing and Arts, Entertainment, & Design career clusters.
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · 51-4062.00 Compare →
- Sewers, Hand · 51-6051.00 Compare →
- Patternmakers, Wood · 51-7032.00 Compare →
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers · 51-6052.00 Compare →
- Fashion Designers · 27-1022.00 Compare →
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · 51-4192.00 Compare →
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand · 51-9031.00 Compare →
- Sewing Machine Operators · 51-6031.00 Compare →
- Etchers and Engravers · 51-9194.00 Compare →
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic · 51-9195.00 Compare →
- Commercial and Industrial Designers · 27-1021.00 Compare →
- Model Makers, Wood · 51-7031.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 21st percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers show 45th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 300 annual U.S. openings
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers rank in the 45th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be declining (-10.2%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $67,670, across about 2,860 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers show 45th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 300 annual U.S. openings • Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers rank in the 45th percentile (Moderate band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 300 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be declining (-10.2%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $67,670, across about 2,860 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-6092-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-6092-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-6092-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-51-6092-00,
title = {Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-51-6092-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.