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Salary comparison

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators: Who Earns More?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators out-earn Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers land at $41,640 and Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators at $44,650. The education gap is real: tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while miscellaneous assemblers and fabricator programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers is New York ($60,210); for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators it's District of Columbia ($50,330).

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
Median salary
$41,640
$44,650
Hourly rate
$20.02/hr
$21.47/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,920
$33,280
Senior level (90th %)
$63,670
$64,880
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
13,920
1,405,030
Job growth (10-year)
-4.5%
-0.1%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
New York
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers median pay.

State
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
District of Columbia
$57,720
$50,330
Washington
$54,300
$48,260
Hawaii
$53,680
$49,630
Colorado
$51,110
$46,150
Massachusetts
$50,470
$46,720
Nevada
$49,150
$49,050
Missouri
$48,240
$46,480
Oregon
$47,450
$46,910
Minnesota
$46,180
$46,920
New Hampshire
$45,970
$46,940
California
$44,360
$47,720
Wisconsin
$43,300
$45,670
Ohio
$37,170
$45,720
Kentucky
$32,530
$47,950
Iowa
$31,680
$48,920

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators earn more nationally. The median is $41,640 for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers versus $44,650 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators has the better 10-year outlook at -0.1% projected growth, compared to -4.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers or Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators?

Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers at $60,210/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers vs. Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers earn $57,720 vs. $50,330 for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary breakdownView →Full Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators salary breakdownView →Best cities for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators by take-home payExplore →How to become a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewersGuide →How to become a miscellaneous assemblers and fabricatorsGuide →