Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Washington
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in Washington earn a median of $54,300 a year ($26.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,580 for the top 10%. That is 30% higher than the national median of $41,640. Washington ranks 3rd of 42 states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.03 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $56,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,550 | $19.01 |
| 25th percentile | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Median | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| 75th percentile | $65,230 | $31.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,580 | $33.94 |
| Average (mean) | $56,380 | $27.11 |
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 | $4,525 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,262.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,088.46 |
| Weekly | $1,044.23 |
| Hourly | $26.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $54,300 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,300 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $47,590 | 80 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $39,590 | $19.04 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Upholsterer | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Sewers, Hand | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Washington is $54,300 a year, or $26.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Washington?
The top 10% of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Washington earn at least $70,580 a year. The top 25% earn $65,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,550 a year, and a quarter of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $46,260 or less.
How many tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers work in Washington?
About 100 tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.