Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $38,000 a year ($18.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $18,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,200 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $41,640. Pay here is 8% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $41,260. There are 0.13 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $44,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $18,250 | $8.78 |
| 25th percentile | $33,950 | $16.32 |
| Median | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| 75th percentile | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Average (mean) | $44,240 | $21.27 |
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 | $3,166.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,583.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,461.54 |
| Weekly | $730.77 |
| Hourly | $18.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,000 salary, see how much house you can afford in North 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,060 | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,510 | 220 |
| Asheville, NC | $39,150 | 50 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $34,810 | 40 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Upholsterer | $51,060 | $24.55 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,000 | $18.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,390 | $23.74 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,260 | $24.16 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $60,080 | $28.88 |
| Baker | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Printing Press Operator | $43,440 | $20.89 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $38,000 a year, or $18.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $18,250 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $83,200 a year. The top 25% earn $51,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $18,250 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $33,950 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 40 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.