SOC 51-6052 · May 2025 · United States
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers across the United States is $41,640 per year, measured over 13,920 jobs. The highest state median is in New York, at $60,210.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -4.5%
- Openings per year
- 5,000
- Typical entry-level education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
57.4% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Pay for this occupation varies by 137.6% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. New York pays $60,210 and Mississippi pays $25,340.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $60,210 | 1,160 | |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $57,720 | 80 | |
| 3 | Washington | $54,300 | 100 | |
| 4 | Hawaii | $53,680 | — | |
| 5 | Colorado | $51,110 | 160 | |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $50,470 | — | |
| 7 | Nevada | $49,150 | 100 | |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $48,310 | 610 | |
| 9 | Missouri | $48,240 | 200 | |
| 10 | Maryland | $48,200 | — |
States with the most Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,180 | $44,360 | |
| 2 | Texas | 1,540 | $36,260 | |
| 3 | New York | 1,160 | $60,210 | |
| 4 | Florida | 920 | $39,790 | |
| 5 | North Carolina | 740 | $41,260 | |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 610 | $48,310 | |
| 7 | Ohio | 510 | $37,170 | |
| 8 | Georgia | 360 | $43,260 | |
| 9 | Indiana | 360 | $36,450 | |
| 10 | New Jersey | 350 | $43,150 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,050 | 1,100 |
| 2 | San Jose | $59,020 | 80 |
| 3 | Philadelphia | $57,020 | 270 |
| 4 | Washington | $55,000 | 230 |
| 5 | Seattle | $54,300 | 60 |
| 6 | Denver | $53,970 | 100 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu | $53,680 | — |
| 8 | Kiryas Joel | $53,570 | — |
| 9 | Atlanta | $51,380 | 220 |
| 10 | Boston | $50,470 | 100 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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