Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
In Charleston-North Charleston, SC, tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $44,740 at the median — $21.51 an hour. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $44,315 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 58.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $57K | +40% | N/A |
| New York | $57K | +40% | 1,400 |
| Maryland | $52K | +27% | 260 |
| Washington | $51K | +25% | 140 |
| Oklahoma | $51K | +24% | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | +21% | 500 |
| Connecticut | $47K | +16% | 180 |
| Hawaii | $47K | +15% | N/A |
| Nevada | $46K | +13% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +12% | 490 |
| Oregon | $46K | +12% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $46K | +11% | 710 |
| California | $45K | +11% | 2,240 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +10% | N/A |
| Arizona | $45K | +10% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $44K | +7% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $43K | +6% | 600 |
| Delaware | $43K | +5% | N/A |
| Vermont | $42K | +2% | 30 |
| Utah | $41K | -1% | 220 |
| Indiana | $39K | -4% | 260 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -5% | 210 |
| Mississippi | $38K | -6% | 140 |
| Illinois | $38K | -6% | 360 |
| Alabama | $38K | -7% | 70 |
| Florida | $38K | -8% | 1,410 |
| Ohio | $38K | -8% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $37K | -8% | 180 |
| Iowa | $37K | -10% | 60 |
| Montana | $36K | -12% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | $36K | -12% | N/A |
| Texas | $36K | -13% | 1,840 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -13% | 480 |
| Missouri | $35K | -14% | 340 |
| Virginia | $35K | -14% | 450 |
| West Virginia | $35K | -14% | 50 |
| Michigan | $35K | -15% | 490 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -16% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -17% | 550 |
| Georgia | $33K | -20% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $32K | -22% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -27% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -28% | 140 |
| Idaho | $28K | -31% | 100 |
| Kansas | $26K | -35% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $44,740 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $20,260, and experienced tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers can clear $45,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,063/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 58.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary is worth about $44,315 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.