Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in New York
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in New York earn a median of $60,210 a year ($28.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,160 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,980 for the top 10%. That is 45% higher than the national median of $41,640. New York ranks 1st of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. 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 $64,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| 25th percentile | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Median | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| 75th percentile | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Average (mean) | $64,200 | $30.87 |
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 | $5,017.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,508.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,315.77 |
| Weekly | $1,157.88 |
| Hourly | $28.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in New York at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,050 | 1,100 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $53,570 | n/a |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,580 | 60 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $48,390 | 60 |
| Rochester, NY | $43,720 | 50 |
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 York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| Upholsterer | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,220 | $17.90 |
| Sewers, Hand | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,030 | $18.77 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $42,100 | $20.24 |
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 York?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New York is $60,210 a year, or $28.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in New York?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New York earn at least $89,980 a year. The top 25% earn $79,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,470 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $47,400 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in New York?
About 1,160 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.