Tailor

Your Fit

Income

$41K

Preparation

Some

Growth

-13.6%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Tailor?

Tailors are skilled artisans who specialize in designing, altering, mending, and custom-making garments. They work with a variety of fabrics and materials to create clothing that fits perfectly to an individual's body.

Sample job titles:

Alterations Sewer, Dressmaker, Seamstress, Tailor

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Tailor.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Tailor earn

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, typical income (in USD) in 2024 was...

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$27K per year	$34K per year	$41K per year	$50K per year	$62K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $8.64K below the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Tailor do?

Work environment

Tailors typically work in retail clothing stores, dry cleaners, or run their own tailoring businesses. The environment is detail-oriented, requiring precision and patience, often in a studio or workshop setting.

Quick task list

Measures clients and advises on garment fit and style.
Alters existing garments to improve fit or style.
Creates patterns and selects materials for new garments.
Sews, fits, and finishes tailored garments.
Maintains and repairs sewing equipment.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Bespoke Tailoring: Creating custom-made garments from scratch based on client specifications.
Alterations Specialist: Specializing in modifying existing garments for better fit or style.
Bridal and Formal Wear: Focusing on wedding gowns, tuxedos, and other formal attire.
Costume Design: Designing and creating costumes for theater, film, and television.

Description

Tailoring is an art that combines creativity with technical skill. Tailors must have a deep understanding of fabrics, sewing techniques, and fashion trends. They often start by consulting with clients to understand their needs and preferences. This is followed by taking precise measurements to ensure a perfect fit.

Creating a garment involves selecting the right fabric, cutting materials based on patterns, and sewing pieces together with great attention to detail. Tailors need to be adept at using various sewing machines and hand-stitching techniques. Bespoke tailoring requires a higher level of skill, as it involves creating unique patterns and designs from scratch.

The work can be highly rewarding, offering the satisfaction of transforming ideas into tangible garments. It allows for creative expression and personal interaction with clients, often resulting in a high level of client gratitude and loyalty.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

The creative process of designing and making garments.
The satisfaction of achieving a perfect fit for clients.
Building a loyal client base and seeing clients' happiness with the final product.

You might make a good Tailor if you are...

Detail-oriented, with a good eye for fashion and style.
Skilled with your hands and enjoy working with different materials.
Patient and enjoy working on intricate, detailed projects.
A good communicator who enjoys interacting with clients.

Pros:

Creative and fulfilling work.
Flexibility to work independently or start your own business.
Direct impact on client satisfaction and confidence.

Cons:

Can be physically demanding, requiring long hours standing or sitting.
May face stiff competition in the fashion industry.
Income can be variable, especially when starting out.

How to become a Tailor

Typical education

Formal education is not strictly required; however, many tailors have completed vocational training or apprenticeships. Some may have an associate's degree in fashion or related fields.

High school preparation

Courses:

Home economics, particularly sewing and textiles.
Art and design for creative skills.
Business studies for entrepreneurship.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Joining fashion or art clubs.
Volunteering or interning at local tailoring shops.
Participating in costume design for school theater productions.

Preparation after high school

Vocational training in tailoring or fashion design.
Apprenticeships with experienced tailors.
Courses in fashion design or garment construction at a community college or technical school.

More resources

American Sewing Guild - Offers resources and networking opportunities for sewing enthusiasts.
Fashion-Schools.org - Provides information on fashion design and tailoring programs.
The Custom Tailors and Designers Association - A professional organization offering training and resources for custom tailors.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.