Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
SOC Code: 51-6052 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Design, make, alter, repair, or fit garments.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $30,534 | $46,758 | $62,982 | $79,206 |
| Montgomery, AL | $28,059 | $44,574 | $61,090 | $77,605 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $39,021 | $50,045 | $61,069 | $72,093 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $28,766 | $42,890 | $57,013 | $71,136 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $38,002 | $48,714 | $59,405 | $70,117 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,981 | $48,651 | $59,342 | $70,013 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $37,482 | $48,194 | $58,885 | $69,597 |
| Binghamton, NY | $39,957 | $49,691 | $59,426 | $69,160 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $34,174 | $45,698 | $57,200 | $68,723 |
| Columbus, IN | $33,862 | $45,448 | $57,034 | $68,619 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 | |
| Monitoring | 2.8 | |
| Active Learning | 2.6 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.0 |
| English Language | 3.6 |
| Production and Processing | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 3.2 |
| Economics and Accounting | 3.2 |
| Design | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.8 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 57.7% |
| Less than high school | 16.9% |
| Some college | 16.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 9.5% |
Typical Tasks
- Fit and study garments on customers to determine required alterations.
- Sew garments, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Measure parts, such as sleeves or pant legs, and mark or pin-fold alteration lines.
- Take up or let down hems to shorten or lengthen garment parts, such as sleeves.
- Let out or take in seams in suits and other garments to improve fit.
- Assemble garment parts and join parts with basting stitches, using needles and thread or sewing machines.
- Remove stitches from garments to be altered, using rippers or razor blades.
- Record required alterations and instructions on tags, and attach them to garments.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Google Docs Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word ArbelSoft TailorMax Bookkeeping software Garment design software Inventory tracking software Tailor Master
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