Tailors and Dressmakers

Salaries for tailors and dressmakers vary widely, depending on their experience, skill, and location. The median annual salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers reported by the U.S. Department of Labor in May 2024 was $39,590 for full-time work. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $26,830 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $60,850 annually. Fifty percent of these workers earned between $32,590 and $48,760.

Workers employed by large companies and retail stores receive benefits such as paid holidays and vacations, health insurance, and pension plans. They are often affiliated with UNITE HERE, the major labor union in the industry. Self-employed tailors and dressmakers and small-shop workers usually provide their own benefits.