Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Kentucky
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Kentucky earn a median of $32,530 a year ($15.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,700 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $41,640. Kentucky ranks 36th 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 $34,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,710 | $14.28 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $32,530 | $15.64 |
| 75th percentile | $35,620 | $17.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,700 | $20.05 |
| Average (mean) | $34,290 | $16.48 |
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 | $2,710.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,355.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,251.15 |
| Weekly | $625.58 |
| Hourly | $15.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $35,230 | n/a |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $34,390 | 100 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $33,380 | 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.
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing Machine Operator | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $33,330 | $16.03 |
| Upholsterer | $41,690 | $20.04 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $31,040 | $14.92 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,490 | $34.85 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,470 | $24.74 |
| Machinist | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,960 | $26.42 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Kentucky is $32,530 a year, or $15.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Kentucky earn at least $41,700 a year. The top 25% earn $35,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,710 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $31,200 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Kentucky?
About 230 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.