What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in the U.S. earn more than $41,640 a year — the middle 80% land between $29,920 and $63,670. About 13,920 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$41,640typical pay / year
13,920people in this work
$63,670+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Make3
Assemble garment parts
+Assemble the bodice, sleeves, and skirt panels for client Ana Morales's day dress, match notches and…
Assemble garment parts
+Assemble the bodice, sleeves, and skirt panels for client Ana Morales's day dress, match notches and grainlines, baste seams with contrasting thread, check fit against the toile, and label each completed section for final sewing on Thursday morning.
The tools that do the workTailor Masterjob descriptionsO*NET
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Make garments
+Make the commissioned made-to-measure blouse for Javier Ruiz from his measurements, cut the confirmed rayon…
Make garments
+Make the commissioned made-to-measure blouse for Javier Ruiz from his measurements, cut the confirmed rayon on grain, sew French seams, press each seam, attach buttons and buttonholes, and deliver a fitting sample by Tuesday afternoon.
The tools that do the workGarment designESCOjob descriptions
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Trim excess material, using scissors.
+Trim the excess seam allowance from the waist panels for customer Lian Chen with sharp shears, leave a 6 mm…
Trim excess material, using scissors.
+Trim the excess seam allowance from the waist panels for customer Lian Chen with sharp shears, leave a 6 mm finished allowance, clip curved corners carefully, and inspect edges for fraying before overcasting.
The tools that do the workArbelSoft TailorMaxjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work20
Read and understand size charts and finished measurements
+Study the client size chart and the garment's finished measurements, flag any discrepancies over one inch,…
Read and understand size charts and finished measurements
+Study the client size chart and the garment's finished measurements, flag any discrepancies over one inch, note which sizes need grade adjustments, and confirm fabric ease and hem allowances before cutting begins tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workArbelSoft TailorMaxESCO
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E-tailoring
+Convert the customer's emailed measurements into a digital pattern, calculate allowance changes for their…
E-tailoring
+Convert the customer's emailed measurements into a digital pattern, calculate allowance changes for their posture notes, generate a fitting checklist, and send the pattern pieces and checklist to the cutter for a trial muslin by Thursday.
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Distinguish fabrics
+Inspect the fabric swatch photos and supplier specs, identify weave, weight, stretch and drape, recommend…
Distinguish fabrics
+Inspect the fabric swatch photos and supplier specs, identify weave, weight, stretch and drape, recommend whether it needs lining or interfacing, and list needle and thread choices for the sample sew tomorrow.
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Make technical drawings of fashion pieces
+Produce front, back and sleeve technical flats with seam lines, stitch counts and notches, include key…
Make technical drawings of fashion pieces
+Produce front, back and sleeve technical flats with seam lines, stitch counts and notches, include key measurements and fabric suggestions, then export a one-page tech pack to send to production by Friday.
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Make made-to-measure garments
+Draft the client's pattern from their measurements, mark alteration points, cut a toile, fit on the client,…
Make made-to-measure garments
+Draft the client's pattern from their measurements, mark alteration points, cut a toile, fit on the client, record changes to waist, length and sleeve that must be made to the final fabric, and confirm deadline for final fitting.
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Sew pieces of fabric
+Prepare the work station, follow the pinned pattern pieces, stitch seams and press each seam as you go, label…
Sew pieces of fabric
+Prepare the work station, follow the pinned pattern pieces, stitch seams and press each seam as you go, label and bag each panel for assembly, and log stitch type and machine settings for repeatability.
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Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
+Estimate the total cost to make this bespoke dress: list fabric type and metres, lining, trims and…
Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
+Estimate the total cost to make this bespoke dress: list fabric type and metres, lining, trims and interfacing costs, hours for cutting, sewing and finishing at my workshop rates, plus a 10 percent contingency and final price for the client.
The tools that do the workArbelSoft TailorMaxO*NET
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Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
+Discuss with Mrs. Patel which fabric she wants—silk charmeuse or cotton sateen—confirm sleeve length,…
Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
+Discuss with Mrs. Patel which fabric she wants—silk charmeuse or cotton sateen—confirm sleeve length, neckline and silhouette, note any reference photos, suggest alternatives for lining and trims, and agree a deadline and deposit before ordering.
The tools that do the workGarment designO*NET
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Put in padding and shaping materials.
+Insert the required foam, horsehair and canvas pads into the bodice to achieve the agreed shaping, baste in…
Put in padding and shaping materials.
+Insert the required foam, horsehair and canvas pads into the bodice to achieve the agreed shaping, baste in position, check balance on the dress form, and note final pad sizes so production matches the fitting.
The tools that do the workTailor MasterO*NET
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Let out or take in seams
+Let out the waist and take in the side seams of this jacket to match the client’s new measurements, mark seam…
Let out or take in seams
+Let out the waist and take in the side seams of this jacket to match the client’s new measurements, mark seam allowances, remove stitching back to original allowance, resew with matched thread and press to original finish.
The tools that do the workTailor Masterjob descriptions
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Record alterations and instructions
+Record today’s alterations for order 47: shortened hem three centimetres, tapered sleeve by two centimetres,…
Record alterations and instructions
+Record today’s alterations for order 47: shortened hem three centimetres, tapered sleeve by two centimetres, replaced lining with cream satin, and include client notes and next appointment date in the job file.
The tools that do the workInventory trackingjob descriptions
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Join parts with basting stitches
+Baste the skirt panels together with long temporary stitches to check drape and alignment, secure trims and…
Join parts with basting stitches
+Baste the skirt panels together with long temporary stitches to check drape and alignment, secure trims and pockets by basting only, then pin to the waist and test on the mannequin before final stitching.
The tools that do the workTailor Masterjob descriptions
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Cut fabrics
+Cut the denim, silk lining and interfacing for order 1376 for Maria Navarro: follow the pattern pieces pinned…
Cut fabrics
+Cut the denim, silk lining and interfacing for order 1376 for Maria Navarro: follow the pattern pieces pinned to the table, mark notches and grain, stack three layers, cut to match the technical drawing for the A-line skirt and label each bundle.
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Distinguish accessories
+Sort the accessories for Tuesday's fittings: separate buttons, zippers, hooks and trims for client list Carla…
Distinguish accessories
+Sort the accessories for Tuesday's fittings: separate buttons, zippers, hooks and trims for client list Carla Reyes and Sonia Lim, discard any tarnished metal, count and bag matched sets with a note of size and colour.
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Manage briefs for clothing manufacturing
+Compile the production briefs for the factory for the autumn capsule: include tech drawings for five styles,…
Manage briefs for clothing manufacturing
+Compile the production briefs for the factory for the autumn capsule: include tech drawings for five styles, fabric specs, trims list, measurements for sizes 6–16, delivery dates and Maria's approval sign-off, then send the pack to procurement.
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Use textile technique for hand-made products
+Make the hand-stitched sampler pieces for the boutique collection using satin stitch, French knots and…
Use textile technique for hand-made products
+Make the hand-stitched sampler pieces for the boutique collection using satin stitch, French knots and appliqué on three swatches, photograph each at 1:1 scale, and attach stitch notes and thread codes for production reference.
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Alter wearing apparel
+Alter Mrs. Alvarez's wool coat: take in the side seams by 2cm each side, shorten sleeves 3cm with preserved…
Alter wearing apparel
+Alter Mrs. Alvarez's wool coat: take in the side seams by 2cm each side, shorten sleeves 3cm with preserved cuff, press and steam finish, then record the changes on her order card and notify her collection date Friday.
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Inventory tracking
+enter inventory tracking for the sewing room: log bolts of denim, zippers, buttons and new trims received…
Inventory tracking
+enter inventory tracking for the sewing room: log bolts of denim, zippers, buttons and new trims received today, note sample alterations assigned to Maria, and set reorder alerts for thread and interfacing when stock falls below two weeks.
The tools that do the workInventory trackingArbelSoft TailorMaxO*NET
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Inventory tracking
+revise the inventory tracking sheet for fabric and trims: record the five yards of navy wool used on order…
Inventory tracking
+revise the inventory tracking sheet for fabric and trims: record the five yards of navy wool used on order 472, add two new brass buttons received from supplier on Tuesday, and mark low stock on zipper sizes 5 and 7.
The tools that do the workInventory trackingO*NET
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Garment design
+Update the garment design log for the Morgan bridal alteration: record the measured bodice changes, attach…
Garment design
+Update the garment design log for the Morgan bridal alteration: record the measured bodice changes, attach the new pattern pieces, note fabric shortages, and schedule a completion date of next Wednesday for the fittings.
The tools that do the workGarment designO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses