Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Tennessee
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Tennessee earn a median of $38,650 a year ($18.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,510 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $41,640. Tennessee ranks 27th 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 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $35,830, close to the median.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,450 | $11.76 |
| 25th percentile | $26,660 | $12.82 |
| Median | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| 75th percentile | $42,720 | $20.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,510 | $20.92 |
| Average (mean) | $35,830 | $17.23 |
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 | $3,220.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,610.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,486.54 |
| Weekly | $743.27 |
| Hourly | $18.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,650 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,370 | 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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,220 | $15.97 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $34,220 | $16.45 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Upholsterer | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,460 | $14.17 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,550 | $16.13 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,440 | $17.52 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,410 | $17.99 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,630 | $21.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 |
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Tennessee is $38,650 a year, or $18.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Tennessee earn at least $43,510 a year. The top 25% earn $42,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,450 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $26,660 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Tennessee?
About 170 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.