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.
Make2
Assemble garment parts
+Lay out the front, back, sleeve and pocket pieces for the silk blouse job, pin them to grain, label seam…
Assemble garment parts
+Lay out the front, back, sleeve and pocket pieces for the silk blouse job, pin them to grain, label seam allowances and notches, then photograph the assembly with measurements for the cutter and send the pattern sheet to production by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workArbelSoft TailorMaxjob descriptionsO*NET
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Make garments
+Cut and sew the sample dress in size 10 from the checked cotton: cut pieces, baste shoulder seams, assemble…
Make garments
+Cut and sew the sample dress in size 10 from the checked cotton: cut pieces, baste shoulder seams, assemble side seams, set sleeves, press and fit on Laura for notes, then record fabric yield and time taken in the job log.
The tools that do the workGarment designInventory trackingESCOjob descriptions
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Fixing1
Trim excess material, using scissors.
+Trim the excess interfacing and seam allowance from the blazer shoulder and collar with curved scissors,…
Trim excess material, using scissors.
+Trim the excess interfacing and seam allowance from the blazer shoulder and collar with curved scissors, clean loose threads, check edges for fraying, then tag the piece ready for final press and fittings this afternoon.
The tools that do the workTailor Masterjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work20
Read and understand size charts and finished measurements
+Read the size charts and finished-measurement sheets for the autumn blouse collection, note any discrepancies…
Read and understand size charts and finished measurements
+Read the size charts and finished-measurement sheets for the autumn blouse collection, note any discrepancies with our block measurements, flag items that need grade changes, and write a one-page summary for production by Wednesday afternoon.
The tools that do the workGarment designESCO
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E-tailoring
+Take the customer measurements from the online order, convert them to pattern alterations for a slim-fit…
E-tailoring
+Take the customer measurements from the online order, convert them to pattern alterations for a slim-fit shift, calculate fabric allowance and seam allowances, then create an alteration list to attach to the cut ticket before Friday's cutting run.
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Distinguish fabrics
+Inspect the three fabric swatches for weight, drape, and stretch, record fiber content and recommended needle…
Distinguish fabrics
+Inspect the three fabric swatches for weight, drape, and stretch, record fiber content and recommended needle and stitch settings, then recommend which swatch suits the wrap dress and which fails quality for production.
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Make technical drawings of fashion pieces
+Draft front, back and sleeve technical flats for the new tunic with measured annotations, add stitch and seam…
Make technical drawings of fashion pieces
+Draft front, back and sleeve technical flats for the new tunic with measured annotations, add stitch and seam notes, and export a print-ready spec sheet for pattern cutting by Monday.
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Make made-to-measure garments
+Produce the made-to-measure pattern for Priya Patel using her measurements, adjust the side seams and bust…
Make made-to-measure garments
+Produce the made-to-measure pattern for Priya Patel using her measurements, adjust the side seams and bust dart, mark seam allowances and notches, and generate a toile instruction so the fitter can do the first fitting on Thursday.
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Sew pieces of fabric
+Sew the prototype skirt using the marked pattern pieces, use French seams where specified, attach the…
Sew pieces of fabric
+Sew the prototype skirt using the marked pattern pieces, use French seams where specified, attach the waistband and zipper, then deliver the finished sample to fittings with notes on tension and any stitch issues.
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Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
+Calculate total cost to produce the embroidered silk blouse sample: list silk by meter with price, lining and…
Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.
+Calculate total cost to produce the embroidered silk blouse sample: list silk by meter with price, lining and notions, cutting and assembly hours at my shop rate, pattern grading time, 10% waste allowance, and give per-piece and 50-unit batch price by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
+Run a fittings consultation with Claire to confirm preferred fabrics, surface pattern placement, sleeve and…
Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.
+Run a fittings consultation with Claire to confirm preferred fabrics, surface pattern placement, sleeve and collar styles, and any lining or reinforcement she wants; record agreed swatches, yardage estimates, and two style sketches for her approval before cutting next Friday.
The tools that do the workGarment designGoogle DocsO*NET
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Put in padding and shaping materials.
+Install padding and shaping in the evening dress bodice: choose foam or horsehair based on the crepe backed…
Put in padding and shaping materials.
+Install padding and shaping in the evening dress bodice: choose foam or horsehair based on the crepe backed satin swatch, cut pieces to pattern templates, tack into place, shape over the dress form and pin for a mock-fitting so I can check silhouette tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workTailor MasterO*NET
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Let out or take in seams
+Let out the side seams of the tweed jacket by one inch each side: measure seam allowances, transfer new seam…
Let out or take in seams
+Let out the side seams of the tweed jacket by one inch each side: measure seam allowances, transfer new seam lines to the lining and outer, unstitch the seam to the staystitch, re-baste the panels and press, then prepare for a final try-on with the client on Thursday.
The tools that do the workGarment designjob descriptions
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Record alterations and instructions
+Log today’s five alterations: Alex jacket let-out one inch at side seams, Maya hem shortened 4 cm, Priya…
Record alterations and instructions
+Log today’s five alterations: Alex jacket let-out one inch at side seams, Maya hem shortened 4 cm, Priya waist taken in 2 cm, add shoulder pads to Sam’s blazer, and remove sleeve lining for repair; include before and after measurements, materials used, and any fittings required.
The tools that do the workBookkeepingGoogle Docsjob descriptions
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Join parts with basting stitches
+Baste the skirt panels together for the florals collection sample: pin the seam allowances matched to the…
Join parts with basting stitches
+Baste the skirt panels together for the florals collection sample: pin the seam allowances matched to the pattern repeat, run long basting stitches two centimetres from the seam, clip curves and press the basting so the toile can be tried on tomorrow before permanent stitching.
The tools that do the workTailor Masterjob descriptions
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Cut fabrics
+Cut the three yard lengths of cotton lawn for the summer blouse order into pattern pieces A, B and C, mark…
Cut fabrics
+Cut the three yard lengths of cotton lawn for the summer blouse order into pattern pieces A, B and C, mark grainlines and notches, and fold and stack each style separately so cutters can start tomorrow morning.
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Distinguish accessories
+Sort and label the incoming trims and straps into hardware, woven labels, buttons and elastic, photograph any…
Distinguish accessories
+Sort and label the incoming trims and straps into hardware, woven labels, buttons and elastic, photograph any suspect items, and flag mismatches so procurement and the samplemaker can approve replacements by Wednesday.
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Manage briefs for clothing manufacturing
+Assemble the production brief for the knitwear run: include tech drawings, fabric composition, shrinkage…
Manage briefs for clothing manufacturing
+Assemble the production brief for the knitwear run: include tech drawings, fabric composition, shrinkage tolerance, grading points, required yardage per size, and delivery date, then circulate to the factory and our sourcing lead for signoff on Friday.
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Use textile technique for hand-made products
+Plan the hand-embroidery technique for the clutch line: list stitch types, thread weights, hoop sizes, and…
Use textile technique for hand-made products
+Plan the hand-embroidery technique for the clutch line: list stitch types, thread weights, hoop sizes, and estimated time per piece, then prepare three samples to show at Saturday's craft fair.
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Alter wearing apparel
+Alter the fitted jacket sample to remove 1.5 cm at each side seam, shorten sleeves by 2 cm, and reshape the…
Alter wearing apparel
+Alter the fitted jacket sample to remove 1.5 cm at each side seam, shorten sleeves by 2 cm, and reshape the collar—update the pattern, make a new toile, and note adjustments for grading before sending to the cutter on Monday.
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Inventory tracking
+update the inventory tracking for surface pattern stock: log yardage printed of the new fern repeat, record…
Inventory tracking
+update the inventory tracking for surface pattern stock: log yardage printed of the new fern repeat, record swatch samples sent to retail, and reduce available roll counts so production knows when to print the next run by the 20th.
The tools that do the workInventory trackingO*NET
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Inventory tracking
+update the inventory tracking for printed swatches: log 48 repeat pattern swatches printed, note four…
Inventory tracking
+update the inventory tracking for printed swatches: log 48 repeat pattern swatches printed, note four misprints sent to waste, record roll numbers, and flag 20 additional meters of base cloth to order by Monday.
The tools that do the workInventory trackingO*NET
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Garment design
+Add the new floral repeat for client Stone to the garment design record: include repeat dimensions, colourway…
Garment design
+Add the new floral repeat for client Stone to the garment design record: include repeat dimensions, colourway notes, scale at 75 percent, and set a prototype print request for Tuesday so the collection deadline stays on track.
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