Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Median pay: $41,640/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: -4.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — declining.
About 5,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
The median pay for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers is $41,640 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
Employment for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers is projected to change -4.5% from 2024 to 2034 - declining.
What education is typically required for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
How many job openings are there each year for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
About 5,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.