Occupation · SOC 51-6052
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
Median wage
$40,860
$27,110–$62,490
Projected growth
-4.4%
Declining
Annual openings
-170
per year
Employed (US)
16,290
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
Time ManagementCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeaking
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingAdministration and ManagementEconomics and Accounting
Technology & tools
Point of sale POS softwareAccounting softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareWord processing softwareInventory management software
Representative tasks
Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.Measure customers, using tape measures, and record measurements.Trim excess material, using scissors.Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.Maintain garment drape and proportions as alterations are performed.Make garment style changes, such as tapering pant legs, narrowing lapels, and adding or removing padding.Repair or replace defective garment parts, such as pockets, zippers, snaps, buttons, and linings.Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.Fit, alter, repair, and make made-to-measure clothing, according to customers' and clothing manufacturers' specifications and fit, and applying principles of garment design, construction, and styling.Press garments, using hand irons or pressing machines.Estimate how much a garment will cost to make, based on factors such as time and material requirements.Position patterns of garment parts on fabric, and cut fabric along outlines, using scissors.Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.Confer with customers to determine types of material and garment styles desired.Examine tags on garments to determine alterations that are needed.Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric.Put in padding and shaping materials.Sew buttonholes and attach buttons to finish garments.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic seam removal — perform using rippers or razor blades under direct supervisor guidance in an alteration shop.Tape measure and customer measurements — record accurately following a standard measurement checklist in a retail tailor setting.Hand-sewing needles and thread — use to complete simple basting stitches on pre-pinned garment sections under close supervision.Scissors and trimming techniques — apply to remove excess fabric from marked alteration lines under a senior tailor's direction.Garment fit issues — recognize common problems such as tight sleeves or uneven hems while assisting a lead seamstress.Sewing machine operation — demonstrate basic straight-stitch functions on scrap fabric during supervised shop floor training.Sleeve and pant-leg measurements — mark or pin-fold alteration lines on simple garments following verbal instructions from a supervisor.Customer service communication — listen actively and repeat back alteration requests to verify understanding in a fitting room environment.Fabric types and care labels — identify basic categories such as woven versus knit when sorting incoming garments for alteration.Point-of-sale POS software — enter customer orders and basic transaction data under direct instruction in a custom sewing shop.
developing
Seam allowances in suits and trousers — let out or take in with reduced oversight to improve garment fit for returning customers.Full customer measurement session — conduct independently using a tape measure and record all key dimensions accurately in a shop order form.Sewing machine and hand-stitching — use routinely to assemble garment parts and join sections with basting stitches across standard alterations.Garment fitting appointments — facilitate by studying fit on customers and identifying required alterations without supervisor prompting.Alteration lines on varied garment types — mark or pin-fold sleeves, waistbands, and hemlines consistently across familiar styles.Trimming and finishing — remove excess material with scissors and apply edge finishes to produce clean, professional seam results.Time management across multiple orders — prioritize and sequence daily alteration tasks to meet customer pickup deadlines in a busy shop.Customer alteration requests — interpret spoken instructions clearly, ask clarifying questions, and confirm scope before beginning work.Inventory management software — track fabric and notions stock, flag low supplies, and update records routinely in a small production environment.Common fit corrections on formal wear — execute standard adjustments such as jacket sleeve shortening and trouser tapering with consistent quality.
proficient
Complex garment alterations — perform autonomously across full scope including structural changes to suits, gowns, and custom orders in a professional tailor shop.Non-standard fit challenges — diagnose and resolve difficult cases such as asymmetrical posture or non-standard body proportions during live fittings.Custom garment construction — assemble and join all components from pattern to finished piece using both machine and hand-sewing techniques independently.Precision measurement and grading — measure customers accurately, compare against pattern specifications, and calculate multi-point adjustments without reference materials.CAD software for garment design — use computer-aided design tools to draft or modify patterns for custom sewing projects in a production environment.Critical evaluation of finished garments — inspect completed alterations and custom pieces against quality standards, identify defects, and correct before customer delivery.Customer consultation management — lead fitting appointments, communicate technical alteration options clearly, and recommend solutions aligned with customer expectations.Seam deconstruction on high-value garments — remove stitching from delicate or specialty fabrics using appropriate tools without damaging material.CRM and customer records — maintain detailed alteration histories, measurement profiles, and preferences for a recurring client base in a custom sewing shop.Workflow efficiency — organize bench setup, tools, and task sequencing to maximize throughput during peak production periods without sacrificing workmanship.
advanced
Shop-wide quality standards — establish and enforce alteration and construction benchmarks across all staff to maintain consistent output in a tailoring or dressmaking business.Staff skill development — mentor and train emerging and developing sewers in fitting techniques, machine operation, and customer interaction in a production environment.Custom sewing service portfolio — design and expand service offerings based on market demand, customer feedback, and production capacity analysis.Business operations management — oversee scheduling, pricing, inventory, and financial tracking using accounting and spreadsheet software to sustain shop profitability.Complex pattern development — create original or heavily modified patterns for bespoke garments, guiding junior staff through construction steps in a custom atelier.Customer relationship strategy — build and retain a loyal client base by implementing CRM processes, follow-up protocols, and personalized service standards.Production process improvement — evaluate and redesign alteration workflows to reduce turnaround time and material waste across the full shop operation.Supplier and vendor relationships — negotiate fabric and notions procurement terms to balance quality and cost in alignment with the shop's production and financial goals.Innovative technique adoption — research and introduce advanced construction or alteration methods, evaluating their fit with the shop's capability and client expectations.Industry and community representation — present the shop's capabilities to local bridal, theatrical, or fashion industry partners to generate new business and collaborative opportunities.
Also known as
94 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Garment FitterPurse MakerEmbroidererSuit MakerSewing SpecialistEmbroidery SpecialistAlterations AssociateShop TailorCollar TurnerGarment CutterCouture DressmakerAlterations TailorTop Collar BasterAlteration TailorCollar SetterWardrobe-Specialty WorkerSlip Cover MakerHand Loom WeaverUnder BasterShop Tailor ApprenticeDrapery SeamstressCollar CutterAlterations SpecialistMerchant TailorSlip Cover SewerSlip Cover SeamstressSample StitcherPants MakerShop and Alteration TailorTailorAviation Life Support Systems Intermediate Level Technician (Navy 001692)Pants CutterFancy NeedleworkerAviation Survival Technician (Coast Guard AST)Clothing BushelerAlterations and Tailor Shop SewerDress FitterEmbroidery Machine OperatorBridal Gown FitterDress Cutter