Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in the U.S.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in the U.S. earn a median of $41,640 a year ($20.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,670 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $45,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,920 | $14.38 |
| 25th percentile | $35,230 | $16.94 |
| Median | $41,640 | $20.02 |
| 75th percentile | $50,200 | $24.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Average (mean) | $45,140 | $21.70 |
Half of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,470 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,735 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,601.54 |
| Weekly | $800.77 |
| Hourly | $20.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $60,210 | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | $57,720 | 80 |
| Washington | $54,300 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $53,680 | n/a |
| Colorado | $51,110 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $50,470 | n/a |
| Nevada | $49,150 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,310 | 610 |
| Missouri | $48,240 | 200 |
| Maryland | $48,200 | n/a |
| Utah | $48,040 | 290 |
| Oregon | $47,450 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $46,180 | 290 |
| Virginia | $46,060 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $45,970 | 60 |
| Delaware | $44,450 | n/a |
| California | $44,360 | 2,180 |
| New Mexico | $43,350 | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | 210 |
| Georgia | $43,260 | 360 |
| New Jersey | $43,150 | 350 |
| Illinois | $42,330 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $41,260 | 740 |
| Arizona | $40,360 | n/a |
| Connecticut | $40,000 | 210 |
| Florida | $39,790 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $38,650 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $38,380 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,500 | 280 |
| Ohio | $37,170 | 510 |
| Indiana | $36,450 | 360 |
| Texas | $36,260 | 1,540 |
| Montana | $34,710 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $33,560 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $33,030 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $32,530 | 230 |
| Iowa | $31,680 | 130 |
| Alabama | $31,200 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $30,990 | 80 |
| Kansas | $27,110 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $26,300 | n/a |
| Mississippi | $25,340 | 160 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,190 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,050 | 1,100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,020 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,020 | 270 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,000 | 230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,300 | 60 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $53,970 | 100 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,680 | n/a |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $53,570 | n/a |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $51,380 | 220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,470 | 100 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $49,610 | 90 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $49,610 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,450 | 200 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $48,750 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,740 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,150 | $40,080 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,100 | $63,050 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 420 | $36,260 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 270 | $57,020 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 240 | $45,630 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 240 | $38,080 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 230 | $55,000 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 220 | $51,380 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 220 | $45,510 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 220 | $36,450 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 220 | $46,260 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 200 | $43,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 200 | $49,450 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 190 | $48,310 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 170 | $38,830 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,890 | $16.78 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,060 | $16.85 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Upholsterer | $46,340 | $22.28 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | $17.93 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,350 | $22.29 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $37,800 | $18.17 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $62,750 | $30.17 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the U.S. is $41,640 a year, or $20.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the U.S. earn at least $63,670 a year. The top 25% earn $50,200 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,920 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $35,230 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in the U.S.?
About 13,920 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.