Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
SOC code 51-6052 · O*NET-SOC 51-6052.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$41,640
a year
Hourly
$20.02
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$45,140
$21.70 per hour
Middle 50%
$35,230 – $50,200
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$29,920 – $63,670
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
13,920
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $29,920
- $14.38/hr
- 25th percentile
- $35,230
- $16.94/hr
- Median percentile
- $41,640
- $20.02/hr
- 75th percentile
- $50,200
- $24.14/hr
- 90th percentile
- $63,670
- $30.61/hr
What do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers do?
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
- 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.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 58% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)58%
- Less than a High School Diploma17%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16%
- Bachelor's Degree9%
Common questions
How much does a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn?
The national median is $41,640 a year. The full range runs from $29,920 at the 10th percentile to $63,670 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring2.8/5
- Reading Comprehension2.6/5
- Active Learning2.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Economics and Accounting3.2/5
- Design3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Sales and Marketing2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination.