Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Virginia
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Virginia earn a median of $46,060 a year ($22.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,820 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $41,640. Virginia ranks 14th of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay. There are 0.07 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $48,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| 25th percentile | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| Median | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| 75th percentile | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,820 | $34.53 |
| Average (mean) | $48,290 | $23.22 |
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 | $3,838.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,919.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,771.54 |
| Weekly | $885.77 |
| Hourly | $22.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,060 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $55,000 | 230 |
| Richmond, VA | $47,370 | n/a |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,060 | 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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,140 | $15.45 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,770 | $24.41 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $40,770 | $19.60 |
| Upholsterer | $31,950 | $15.36 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $38,660 | $18.59 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $34,410 | $16.55 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $45,390 | $21.82 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,150 | $35.65 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $59,180 | $28.45 |
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 Virginia?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Virginia is $46,060 a year, or $22.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Virginia?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Virginia earn at least $71,820 a year. The top 25% earn $59,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,550 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $33,640 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Virginia?
About 300 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.