All About Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Job Description Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Daily Life Of a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
- Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
- Measure parts such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
- Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
- Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.
- Repair or replace defective garment parts such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.
- Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.
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Skills Needed to be a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
These are the skills Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Custom Tailor
- Clothing Cutter
- Slip Cover Sewer
- Laceworker
- Alterations Specialist
Job Opportunities for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
In the United States, there were 44,300 jobs for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,800 job openings in this field each 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.
Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Salary
The average yearly salary of a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer ranges between $20,720 and $53,990.

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 |
What Tools & Technology do Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Google Docs
- Inventory tracking software
- Bookkeeping software
How to Become a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
Are there Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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