Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers · California

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in California

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers in California earn a median annual wage of $44,360 —6.5% above the national median of $41,640. That ranks CA #17 of 42 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$44,360
Median hourly
$21.33
Entry level (P10)
$35,820
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$64,340
90th percentile
Employment
2,180
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.5%
U.S. $41,640

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,820
$39,270
$44,360
$49,540
$35,820$44,360$64,340
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $44,360.

Employment is 1.34× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers

All 42 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$60,210$28.951,1601.34
2District of Columbia$57,720$27.75801.30
3Washington$54,300$26.111000.33
4Hawaii$53,680$25.81——
5Colorado$51,110$24.571600.62
6Massachusetts$50,470$24.27——
7Nevada$49,150$23.631000.74
8Pennsylvania$48,310$23.236101.12
9Missouri$48,240$23.192000.75
10Maryland$48,200$23.17——

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in California?

The median annual wage for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California is $44,360, or $21.33 per hour. That is 6.5% above the national median of $41,640.

What is the entry-level tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,820 per year ($17.22/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,270.

How many people work as tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in California?

About 2,180 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers?

California ranks #17 of 42 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.34x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $60,210 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($57,720) and Washington ($54,300).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes