Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $45,140 ≈ $22/hr
National median salary $41,640
Total employment 13,920 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth -4.5%
Decline
Annual openings 5,000 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 38,800 → 37,100 (-1,700)
Typical entry education No formal educational credential
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$65,530
- New York$64,200
- Washington$56,380
- Hawaii$52,070
- Massachusetts$51,890
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Kansas$27,360
- Mississippi$29,890
- Oklahoma$31,110
- Arkansas$32,570
- Iowa$34,280
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $65,530 | $57,720 | $32 | +45.2% | 80 |
| 2 | New York | $64,200 | $60,210 | $31 | +42.2% | 1,160 |
| 3 | Washington | $56,380 | $54,300 | $27 | +24.9% | 100 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $52,070 | $53,680 | $25 | +15.4% | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $51,890 | $50,470 | $25 | +15% | — |
| 6 | Georgia | $49,370 | $43,260 | $24 | +9.4% | 360 |
| 7 | Colorado | $49,250 | $51,110 | $24 | +9.1% | 160 |
| 8 | California | $49,200 | $44,360 | $24 | +9% | 2,180 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $48,930 | $43,150 | $24 | +8.4% | 350 |
| 10 | Virginia | $48,290 | $46,060 | $23 | +7% | 300 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $47,050 | $45,970 | $23 | +4.2% | 60 |
| 12 | Maryland | $47,030 | $48,200 | $23 | +4.2% | — |
| 13 | Oregon | $46,730 | $47,450 | $22 | +3.5% | 100 |
| 14 | Alabama | $46,450 | $31,200 | $22 | +2.9% | 90 |
| 15 | Nevada | $46,390 | $49,150 | $22 | +2.8% | 100 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $45,630 | $46,180 | $22 | +1.1% | 290 |
| 17 | Illinois | $45,350 | $42,330 | $22 | +0.5% | 320 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $45,230 | $48,310 | $22 | +0.2% | 610 |
| 19 | Delaware | $44,640 | $44,450 | $21 | -1.1% | — |
| 20 | Missouri | $44,460 | $48,240 | $21 | -1.5% | 200 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $43,680 | $40,000 | $21 | -3.2% | 210 |
| 22 | Florida | $43,650 | $39,790 | $21 | -3.3% | 920 |
| 23 | Utah | $43,050 | $48,040 | $21 | -4.6% | 290 |
| 24 | Indiana | $42,460 | $36,450 | $20 | -5.9% | 360 |
| 25 | Arizona | $42,180 | $40,360 | $20 | -6.6% | — |
| 26 | North Carolina | $41,860 | $41,260 | $20 | -7.3% | 740 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $41,590 | $43,300 | $20 | -7.9% | 210 |
| 28 | Michigan | $41,470 | $37,500 | $20 | -8.1% | 280 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $39,750 | $43,350 | $19 | -11.9% | — |
| 30 | Nebraska | $39,710 | $38,380 | $19 | -12% | 40 |
| 31 | Ohio | $39,370 | $37,170 | $19 | -12.8% | 510 |
| 32 | Montana | $37,490 | $34,710 | $18 | -16.9% | 50 |
| 33 | Texas | $37,290 | $36,260 | $18 | -17.4% | 1,540 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $36,850 | $33,560 | $18 | -18.4% | 250 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $35,830 | $38,650 | $17 | -20.6% | 170 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $35,000 | $33,030 | $17 | -22.5% | 340 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $34,290 | $32,530 | $16 | -24% | 230 |
| 38 | Iowa | $34,280 | $31,680 | $16 | -24.1% | 130 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $32,570 | $30,990 | $16 | -27.8% | 80 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $31,110 | $26,300 | $15 | -31.1% | — |
| 41 | Mississippi | $29,890 | $25,340 | $14 | -33.8% | 160 |
| 42 | Kansas | $27,360 | $27,110 | $13 | -39.4% | 40 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 69 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,050 | $65,180 | 1,100 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,020 | $55,320 | 80 |
| 3 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,020 | $50,580 | 270 |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,000 | $54,780 | 230 |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,300 | $59,060 | 60 |
| 6 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $53,970 | $52,390 | 100 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $53,680 | $50,880 | — |
| 8 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $53,570 | $55,220 | — |
| 9 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $51,380 | $56,330 | 220 |
| 10 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,470 | $53,040 | 100 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $105,420 | $105,740 | 220 |
| 2 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $105,420 | $105,740 | 220 |
| 3 | Sector 51 - Information | $105,420 | $105,740 | 220 |
| 4 | General Merchandise Retailers | $53,680 | $55,980 | 700 |
| 5 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $50,340 | $53,760 | 60 |
| 6 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $48,170 | $48,220 | 240 |
| 7 | Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $48,170 | $49,280 | 220 |
| 8 | Sporting Goods Retailers | $48,170 | $50,110 | — |
| 9 | Performing Arts Companies | $47,600 | $52,250 | 70 |
| 10 | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $47,390 | $50,890 | 90 |
| 11 | Employment Services | $47,240 | $48,370 | 50 |
| 12 | Temporary Help Services | $47,240 | $47,710 | 50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in the U.S.?
The median tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary in the United States is $41,640 per year (mean $45,140), and about 80% earn between $29,920 and $63,670.
How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make per hour?
Roughly $22 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $45,140 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers at $65,530 per year (median $57,720).
What is the job outlook for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers?
Employment is projected to change -4.5% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 5,000 openings per year.