Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in North Carolina
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in North Carolina earn a median of $41,260 a year ($19.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 740 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,670 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $41,640. North Carolina ranks 23rd of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay. There are 0.15 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $41,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,110 | $14.96 |
| 25th percentile | $35,130 | $16.89 |
| Median | $41,260 | $19.84 |
| 75th percentile | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Average (mean) | $41,860 | $20.12 |
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 | $3,438.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,719.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,586.92 |
| Weekly | $793.46 |
| Hourly | $19.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,260 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 cities in North Carolina
| 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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $38,000 | 40 |
| 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.
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing Machine Operator | $35,160 | $16.91 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,920 | $15.35 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Upholsterer | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,700 | $17.64 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $40,090 | $19.27 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | $17.92 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,610 | $18.08 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,460 | $20.90 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $48,180 | $23.17 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,330 | $19.39 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in North Carolina is $41,260 a year, or $19.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in North Carolina earn at least $52,670 a year. The top 25% earn $45,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,110 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $35,130 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in North Carolina?
About 740 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.