Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Illinois
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Illinois earn a median of $42,330 a year ($20.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,720 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $41,640. Illinois ranks 22nd of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay. There are 0.05 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $45,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,210 | $15.49 |
| 25th percentile | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| Median | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| 75th percentile | $47,240 | $22.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,720 | $31.60 |
| Average (mean) | $45,350 | $21.80 |
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 | $3,527.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,763.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,628.08 |
| Weekly | $814.04 |
| Hourly | $20.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,330 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,740 | n/a |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $45,630 | 240 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| Upholsterer | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $43,730 | $21.03 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,950 | $17.77 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,950 | $20.65 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Illinois is $42,330 a year, or $20.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Illinois earn at least $65,720 a year. The top 25% earn $47,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,210 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $36,210 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Illinois?
About 320 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.