How much does a tailor make?
a year · about $20 an hour
A typical tailor in the United States makes $41,640 a year, about $20 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A tailor measures a customer and pins a sleeve or pant hem, then unpicks stitches where the garment needs changing. They sew the new fit by hand or machine, repair buttons or zippers, and press the garment smooth.
Did you know? Before industrial clothing production, most clothes in America were made for one person at home or by a tailor or dressmaker.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $29,920 and $63,670How do you become one?
Most U.S. tailors have a high-school diploma or GED, though some jobs need less, and they learn sewing on the job. Apprenticeships are another path; U.S. Labor lists alteration tailor, custom tailor, and dressmaker programs.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and creating
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and useful sewing skills can raise pay, and pay also differs by location and employer, such as a clothing shop, repair service, or factory. More complex custom jobs can pay differently, too.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($60,210), lowest in Mississippi ($25,340).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29,920 | $41,640 | $63,670 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $60,210 | about 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $57,720 | about 80 |
| Washington | $54,300 | about 100 |
| Hawaii | $53,680 | — |
| Colorado | $51,110 | about 160 |
Official definition: Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
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/summary/51-6052.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes516052.htm
- americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/sweatshops/online/history/1820-1880
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY