Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in California
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in California earn a median of $44,360 a year ($21.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,340 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $41,640. California ranks 17th of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay. There are 0.12 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| 25th percentile | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Median | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| 75th percentile | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,340 | $30.94 |
| Average (mean) | $49,200 | $23.66 |
Half of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,696.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,848.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,706.15 |
| Weekly | $853.08 |
| Hourly | $21.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,020 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,450 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,610 | 170 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,470 | 150 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $44,240 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $40,080 | 1,150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $38,720 | 170 |
Highest-paying states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $60,210 |
| District of Columbia | $57,720 |
| Washington | $54,300 |
| Hawaii | $53,680 |
| Colorado | $51,110 |
| Massachusetts | $50,470 |
| Nevada | $49,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,310 |
| Missouri | $48,240 |
| Maryland | $48,200 |
See Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Upholsterer | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| Sewers, Hand | $42,420 | $20.40 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,730 | $22.95 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in California?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California is $44,360 a year, or $21.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in California?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California earn at least $64,340 a year. The top 25% earn $49,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,820 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $39,270 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in California?
About 2,180 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.