What Does it Take to Be a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer?
Example of Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Job Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
A Day in the Life of a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
- Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.
- Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
- Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.
- Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.
- Sew buttonholes and attach buttons to finish garments.
- Trim excess material, using scissors.
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Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Needed Skills
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.
Related Job Titles
- Fur Tailor
- Tailor
- Hand Alterations Seamstress
- Coat Tailor
- Clothing Busheler
Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer Employment Estimates
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. The BLS estimates 4,800 yearly job openings in this field.

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 typical yearly salary for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers is somewhere 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?
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
Becoming a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer
Education needed to be a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Tailor, Dressmaker, or Custom Sewer?

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Sector

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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