Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Columbia, SC
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $36,690 a year ($17.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,970 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $41,640. Pay here is 11% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $33,030. There are 0.15 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,580 | $10.85 |
| 25th percentile | $33,030 | $15.88 |
| Median | $36,690 | $17.64 |
| 75th percentile | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| Average (mean) | $39,500 | $18.99 |
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 | $3,057.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,528.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,411.15 |
| Weekly | $705.58 |
| Hourly | $17.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,230 | n/a |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,510 | 220 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $30,620 | 60 |
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 or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,830 | $14.34 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $36,690 a year, or $17.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $55,970 a year. The top 25% earn $46,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,580 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $33,030 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Columbia, SC?
About 60 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.