Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Salary in Columbia, SC
In Columbia, SC, tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn $34,270 at the median — $16.48 an hour. The range runs from $19K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $36,590 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 54.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $34K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). 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.
About tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers (10th percentile) start around $19K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $40K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $34,270 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $19,240, and experienced tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers can clear $58,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,417/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 52.8% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary is worth about $36,590 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.