Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in New Jersey
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in New Jersey earn a median of $43,150 a year ($20.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,190 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $41,640. New Jersey ranks 21st of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay. There are 0.08 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $48,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,650 | $17.14 |
| 25th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Median | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| 75th percentile | $57,980 | $27.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,190 | $32.79 |
| Average (mean) | $48,930 | $23.52 |
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 | $3,595.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,797.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,659.62 |
| Weekly | $829.81 |
| Hourly | $20.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,150 salary, see how much house you can afford in New Jersey at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,050 | 1,100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,020 | 270 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $36,130 | $17.37 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Upholsterer | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $46,790 | $22.49 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,570 | $17.58 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,230 | $22.71 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $81,110 | $38.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,140 | $23.62 |
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New Jersey is $43,150 a year, or $20.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New Jersey earn at least $68,190 a year. The top 25% earn $57,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,650 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $36,380 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in New Jersey?
About 350 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.