How much does a tailor make?
The median tailor in the United States earns $41,640 per year, about $20.02 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tailors earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-6052.
Tailor salary range
Pay for tailors spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $29,920 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $63,670. The average (mean) wage of $45,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,920 | $14.38 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,230 | $16.94 | |
| Median (50th) | $41,640 | $20.02 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $50,200 | $24.14 | |
| 90th percentile | $63,670 | $30.61 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers (SOC 51-6052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Tailor salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tailors earn the most in New York at $60,210 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $25,340. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $60,210 | 1,160 |
| District of Columbia | $57,720 | 80 |
| Washington | $54,300 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $53,680 | N/A |
| Colorado | $51,110 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $50,470 | N/A |
| Nevada | $49,150 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,310 | 610 |
| Missouri | $48,240 | 200 |
| Maryland | $48,200 | N/A |
| Utah | $48,040 | 290 |
| Oregon | $47,450 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $46,180 | 290 |
| Virginia | $46,060 | 300 |
| New Hampshire | $45,970 | 60 |
| Delaware | $44,450 | N/A |
| California | $44,360 | 2,180 |
| New Mexico | $43,350 | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $43,300 | 210 |
| Georgia | $43,260 | 360 |
| New Jersey | $43,150 | 350 |
| Illinois | $42,330 | 320 |
| North Carolina | $41,260 | 740 |
| Arizona | $40,360 | N/A |
| Connecticut | $40,000 | 210 |
| Florida | $39,790 | 920 |
| Tennessee | $38,650 | 170 |
| Nebraska | $38,380 | 40 |
| Michigan | $37,500 | 280 |
| Ohio | $37,170 | 510 |
| Indiana | $36,450 | 360 |
| Texas | $36,260 | 1,540 |
| Montana | $34,710 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $33,560 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $33,030 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $32,530 | 230 |
| Iowa | $31,680 | 130 |
| Alabama | $31,200 | 90 |
| Arkansas | $30,990 | 80 |
| Kansas | $27,110 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $26,300 | N/A |
| Mississippi | $25,340 | 160 |
State median wages for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers (SOC 51-6052), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for tailors
The BLS projects employment of tailors to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 8.8%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 33,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 30,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 3,700 openings a year for tailors. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a tailor
The typical entry-level education for tailors is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a tailor earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $60,210) and the lowest (Mississippi, $25,340) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 13,920 people work as tailors in the United States. At $41,640 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Tailor salary FAQ
How much does a tailor make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a tailor is $20.02. The middle half of tailors earn between $16.94 and $24.14 per hour.
What is the highest tailor salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tailors earn more than $63,670 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a tailor make a year?
The median annual salary for a tailor is $41,640. The average (mean) wage of $45,140 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a tailor a well paid job?
At $41,640 a year, a tailor earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 13,920 people work as tailors in the United States.
Which state pays tailors the most?
New York has the highest median salary for tailors at $60,210 a year. District of Columbia ($57,720) and Washington ($54,300) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a tailor a good career?
Employment of tailors is projected to shrink 8.8% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 3,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a tailor?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tailors as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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