Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers earn a median $41,640 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$41,640
$20.02 per hour
Range
$29,920 – $63,670
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
13,920
across the U.S.
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the U.S. rose from $40,860 (May 2024) to $41,640 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers do
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -8.8% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 3,700
- Self-employed
- 58%
Employment of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers is projected to shrink 8.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 3,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$35,638
per year · effective tax rate 14.4%
$2,970Monthly
$1,485Twice a month
$1,371Every 2 weeks
$17.13Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,817
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,582
- Medicare (1.45%)$604
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,638
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,920 | $14.38 | $26,221 |
| 25th percentile | $35,230 | $16.94 | $30,487 |
| Median (50th) | $41,640 | $20.02 | $35,638 |
| 75th percentile | $50,200 | $24.13 | $42,516 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,670 | $30.61 | $53,339 |
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $60,210 | +5.1% | $47,904 | $40,470 – $89,980 | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | $57,720 | +0.6% | $46,253 | $36,400 – $84,760 | 80 |
| Washington | $54,300 | +6.4% | $45,810 | $39,550 – $70,580 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $53,680 | +14.2% | $42,762 | $38,160 – $65,710 | — |
| Colorado | $51,110 | +30.0% | $41,706 | $30,800 – $64,560 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $50,470 | +10.3% | $40,429 | $38,660 – $63,890 | — |
| Nevada | $49,150 | +6.8% | $41,672 | $25,630 – $63,310 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,310 | −1.9% | $39,514 | $26,840 – $57,310 | 610 |
| Missouri | $48,240 | +37.1% | $39,611 | $28,600 – $58,080 | 200 |
| Maryland | $48,200 | −7.3% | $38,983 | $36,820 – $53,680 | — |
| Utah | $48,040 | +18.4% | $39,584 | $30,540 – $50,940 | 290 |
| Oregon | $47,450 | +3.9% | $36,984 | $31,210 – $62,290 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $46,180 | +6.2% | $37,634 | $31,320 – $60,970 | 290 |
| Virginia | $46,060 | +31.2% | $37,355 | $29,550 – $71,820 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $45,970 | +2.2% | $39,117 | $36,350 – $69,210 | 60 |
| Delaware | $44,450 | +3.3% | $36,105 | $40,200 – $49,050 | — |
| California | $44,360 | −2.3% | $36,483 | $35,820 – $64,340 | 2,180 |
| New Mexico | $43,350 | −0.6% | $36,115 | $26,930 – $46,800 | — |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | +12.1% | $35,847 | $32,970 – $50,330 | 210 |
| Georgia | $43,260 | +32.2% | $35,317 | $27,030 – $83,770 | 360 |
| New Jersey | $43,150 | −5.2% | $36,015 | $35,650 – $68,190 | 350 |
| Illinois | $42,330 | +10.4% | $34,242 | $32,210 – $65,720 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $41,260 | +16.3% | $34,195 | $31,110 – $52,670 | 740 |
| Arizona | $40,360 | −10.1% | $33,809 | $37,930 – $47,110 | — |
| Connecticut | $40,000 | −15.5% | $33,445 | $35,460 – $61,200 | 210 |
| Florida | $39,790 | +5.9% | $34,151 | $30,450 – $56,200 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $38,650 | +12.0% | $33,235 | $24,450 – $43,510 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $38,380 | +30.9% | $32,152 | $34,360 – $46,380 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,500 | +7.7% | $30,968 | $32,610 – $56,150 | 280 |
| Ohio | $37,170 | −1.0% | $31,806 | $31,600 – $49,930 | 510 |
| Indiana | $36,450 | −6.6% | $30,422 | $30,490 – $50,360 | 360 |
| Texas | $36,260 | +1.9% | $31,315 | $26,840 – $51,120 | 1,540 |
| Montana | $34,710 | −3.7% | $29,195 | $33,330 – $42,850 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $33,560 | +12.2% | $28,525 | $25,770 – $50,630 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $33,030 | −3.1% | $27,895 | $16,890 – $60,120 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $32,530 | −13.0% | $27,297 | $29,710 – $41,700 | 230 |
| Iowa | $31,680 | −13.9% | $27,083 | $27,460 – $42,950 | 130 |
| Alabama | $31,200 | −18.0% | $25,954 | $20,080 – $111,710 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $30,990 | −2.4% | $26,085 | $22,880 – $45,310 | 80 |
| Kansas | $27,110 | +2.7% | $23,189 | $19,510 – $39,090 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $26,300 | −48.1% | $22,630 | $23,900 – $38,020 | — |
| Mississippi | $25,340 | −34.1% | $22,196 | $20,060 – $49,860 | 160 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | No formal educational credential | -12.0% |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.7% |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.6% |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.3% |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender | $38,180 | High school diploma or equivalent | -12.5% |
| Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer | $37,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.5% |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.4% |
| Upholsterer | $46,340 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.3% |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,350 | High school diploma or equivalent | -3.3% |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,670 | No formal educational credential | -15.1% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make?
The national median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers is $41,640 a year ($20.02 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,920 and the top 10% earn over $63,670. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $60,210.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are there in the U.S.?
About 13,920 people work as tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers nationwide.