Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,720 or more. The middle half of tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Chicago earn between $37,140 and $55,040.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $46KMedian
- $55K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,730 | $3,978 | $22.95 |
| Median | $45,630 | $3,802 | $21.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,140 | $3,095 | $17.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,040 | $4,587 | $26.46 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($45,350) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($45,140). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $41,640.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $47,730 | $45,630 | $32,430 | $65,720 | 240 |
| Illinois | $45,350 | $42,330 | $32,210 | $65,720 | 320 |
| United States | $45,140 | $41,640 | $29,920 | $63,670 | 13,920 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $47,730, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $38,309 a year, or $3,192 a month and $1,473 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $39,129 | $3,261 |
| Working in IL | $38,309 | $3,192 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $47,730 buys what about $46,074 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$40,780
- Madison, WI$42,810
- Indianapolis, IN$44,300
- Toledo, OH$37,950
- Dayton, OH$38,100
- Detroit, MI$41,830
Highest-paying cities for tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($65,180).
- New York, NY$65,180
- Seattle, WA$59,060
- Atlanta, GA$56,330
- San Jose, CA$55,320
- Kiryas Joel, NY$55,220
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers make an hour in Chicago?
$22.95 an hour on average, and $21.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $38,309 a year ($3,192 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,730.
Do tailors, dressmakers, and custom sewers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($45,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6052; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.59, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.59).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.