Life As a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Job Description Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
What Do Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Put in padding and shaping materials.
- Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
- 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.
- Repair or replace defective garment parts such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
- Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
- Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
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What Every Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Should Know
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Job Titles
- Garment Cutter
- Alterations Expert
- Alterations Supervisor
- Top Collar Baster
- Alteration Hand
Are There Job Opportunities for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
There were about 44,300 jobs for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer. There will be an estimated 4,800 positions for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer per year.
The states with the most job growth for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer are Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Wyoming, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Make?
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers make between $20,720 and $53,990 a year.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers who work in Minnesota, District of Columbia, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $28,990 |
Alaska | $35,930 |
Arizona | $40,830 |
Arkansas | $25,640 |
California | $43,200 |
Colorado | $35,500 |
Connecticut | $39,620 |
Delaware | $29,680 |
District of Columbia | $44,810 |
Florida | $28,810 |
Georgia | $39,400 |
Hawaii | $31,420 |
Idaho | $31,300 |
Illinois | $38,710 |
Indiana | $29,470 |
Iowa | $34,260 |
Kentucky | $31,820 |
Louisiana | $31,350 |
Maryland | $35,270 |
Massachusetts | $39,000 |
Michigan | $35,530 |
Minnesota | $45,060 |
Mississippi | $24,320 |
Missouri | $33,420 |
Nebraska | $31,000 |
Nevada | $34,880 |
New Hampshire | $28,190 |
New Jersey | $33,870 |
New York | $39,700 |
North Carolina | $26,600 |
North Dakota | $33,350 |
Ohio | $35,130 |
Oklahoma | $28,920 |
Oregon | $33,800 |
Pennsylvania | $35,740 |
South Carolina | $31,130 |
Tennessee | $29,170 |
Texas | $28,870 |
Utah | $35,400 |
Virginia | $27,340 |
Washington | $32,620 |
Wisconsin | $29,790 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs
- Inventory tracking software
- Bookkeeping software
How to Become a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
What education is needed to be a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those who work as a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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