Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Career, Salary and Skills
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $41,640 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 13,920. Wage data is published for 109 locations.
Occupation description
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
O*NET code
51-6052.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$41,640
Hourly median
$20.02
Employment
13,920
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$29,920
10th
$35,230
25th
$41,640
Median
$50,200
75th
$63,670
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Monitoring | 2.75 | 2.62 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Active Learning | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Coordination | 2.62 | 2.50 |
Typical tasks
- Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
- Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
- Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
- Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
- Trim excess material, using scissors.
- Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
Technology
- ArbelSoft TailorMax
- Bookkeeping software
- Garment design software
- Google Docs
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Tailor Master
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in CAMedian $44,360 · Employment 2,180
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in TXMedian $36,260 · Employment 1,540
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in NYMedian $60,210 · Employment 1,160
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $40,080 · Employment 1,150
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in New York, NYMedian $63,050 · Employment 1,100
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in FLMedian $39,790 · Employment 920
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in NCMedian $41,260 · Employment 740
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in PAMedian $48,310 · Employment 610
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in OHMedian $37,170 · Employment 510
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in Houston, TXMedian $36,260 · Employment 420
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in INMedian $36,450 · Employment 360
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in GAMedian $43,260 · Employment 360
Related careers
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersNational median $46,570
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersNational median $38,180
- Layout Workers, Metal and PlasticNational median $63,870
- Patternmakers, WoodNational median $49,630
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticNational median $46,170
- Cutters and Trimmers, HandNational median $38,020
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersNational median $52,540
- Print Binding and Finishing WorkersNational median $42,290
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.