Sewers, Hand
Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.
Also called: Alteration Specialist · Couturier · Custom Clothier · Custom Designer · Custom Seamstress · Seamstress
Median pay (national)
$33,760
$25,530–$46,320 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
2,240
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-7%
~700 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for sewers, hand shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $46,320 versus $25,530 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $33,760 leaves roughly 37% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 18 states with released data, Colorado pays the most for this role (median $44,090, +31% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $21,170 — a 108% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Writing
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Select thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles.
- Measure and align parts, fasteners, or trimmings, following seams, edges, or markings on parts.
- Trim excess threads or edges of parts, using scissors or knives.
- Use different sewing techniques such as felling, tacking, basting, embroidery, and fagoting.
- Sew, join, reinforce, or finish parts of articles, such as garments, books, mattresses, toys, and wigs, using needles and thread or other materials.
- Fit garments on clients, altering as needed.
- Draw and cut patterns according to specifications.
- Sew buttonholes, or add lace or other trimming.
- Tie, knit, weave or knot ribbon, yarn, or decorative materials.
- Smooth seams with heated irons, flat bones, or rubbing sticks.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe FreeHand MX
- Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite
- Drawing software
- Embroidery design software
- Graphics digitizing software
- Template design software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- Design
- Production and Processing