How much does a hand sewer make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical hand sewer in the United States makes $36,480 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They choose thread, measure and line up cloth or parts, then stitch seams, fasteners, or decorative details by hand. They snip extra thread and check that the finished item looks neat.
Did you know? A hand sewer may stitch books, mattresses, toys, and even wigs—not just clothes.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $27,680 and $47,570How do you become one?
No specific diploma, test, license, or apprenticeship is listed as required in the U.S.; sewing skills matter. Employers train on the job, and federal rules generally bar under-16s from manufacturing, so factory work starts at 16 or older.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience, careful work, and harder or more specialized stitching can affect pay. The employer and industry, location, and hours worked also matter; part-time work usually means less yearly pay than full-time work.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($47,600), lowest in Louisiana ($27,040).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $27,680 | $36,480 | $47,570 | about 2,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47,600 | — |
| Washington | $45,170 | — |
| California | $42,420 | about 110 |
| Iowa | $42,290 | about 40 |
| South Carolina | $39,690 | — |
Official definition: Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/51-6051.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-6051.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes516051.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- webapps.dol.gov/elaws/whd/flsa/cl/p24.asp
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY