How to become a tailor, dressmakers, and custom sewers
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers do
- Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
- Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
- Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.
- Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
- Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is tailor, dressmakers, and custom sewers a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 18% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- New York $60,210
- District of Columbia $57,720
- Washington $54,300
- Colorado $51,110
- Nevada $49,150
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.