Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Also called: Alterations Expert · Alterations Sewer · Bridal Designer · Clothing Pattern Designer · Custom Dressmaker · Custom Sewer
Median pay (national)
$40,860
$27,110–$62,490 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
16,290
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-4.5%
~5,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
No formal educational credential
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $62,490 versus $27,110 at the bottom 10% — 2.3x. The median of $40,860 leaves roughly 53% 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 -4.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 5,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 47 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $57,380, +40% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,460 — a 155% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking 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
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
- Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
- Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
- Fit, alter, repair, and make made-to-measure clothing, according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit, and applying principles of garment design, construction, and styling.
Tools & technology
- ArbelSoft TailorMax
- Bookkeeping software
- Garment design software
- Inventory tracking software
- Tailor Master
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Administration and Management
- Economics and Accounting
- Design
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing