Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Select thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles.
Measure and align parts, fasteners, or trimmings, following seams, edges, or markings on parts.
Trim excess threads or edges of parts, using scissors or knives.
Sew, join, reinforce, or finish parts of articles, such as garments, books, mattresses, toys, and wigs, using needles and thread or other materials.
Use different sewing techniques such as felling, tacking, basting, embroidery, and fagoting.
Top skills:Judgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementSpeakingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingActive Listening
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sewers, Hand pay by experience level
Entry level$28,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$34,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$38,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$42,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$49,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-7%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
700
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sewers, Hand salary by industry
Apparel Manufacturing
490 workers
$38,000
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
470 workers
$37,500
Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers
220 workers
$39,000
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers
220 workers
$39,000
Printing and Related Support Activities
180 workers
$38,000
Printing and Related Support Activities
180 workers
$38,000
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
170 workers
$28,000
Textile Product Mills
110 workers
$32,000
Other Textile Product Mills
100 workers
$32,000
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
80 workers
$48,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Sewers, Hand pays 31% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
