Careers · Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers · California
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in California
Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers design, make, alter, repair, and fit garments for individual clients. They work in tailoring shops, dry cleaning establishments, retail stores, or independently from home studios In California the median pay is $44,360 a year, 7% above the national median of $41,640.
$44,360median pay in California, per year
$39,270–$49,540middle half earn
2,180employed in California
$41,640U.S. median, for comparison
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most hold a high school diploma.
Skills that matter most
Time ManagementActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementEconomics and AccountingDesign
Full profile, interests that fit, certifications and training: Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers.
Licenses and training in California
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay in other states
New York · $60,210District of Columbia · $57,720Washington · $54,300Hawaii · $53,680Colorado · $51,110Massachusetts · $50,470Nevada · $49,150Pennsylvania · $48,310Missouri · $48,240Maryland · $48,200
Related occupations
Sewers, HandLaundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersPressers, Textile, Garment, and Related MaterialsSewing Machine OperatorsShoe and Leather Workers and RepairersShoe Machine Operators and TendersTextile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersTextile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 51-6052.00. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California, annual.