Occupation salary profile

Sewers, Hand

SOC 51-6051 BLS OEWS May 2025

Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.

National median · BLS
$36,480
▲ +8.06% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$37,210
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
2,190
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Sewers, Hand

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$27,680
25th$33,330
Median (50th)$36,480
75th$40,720
90th — top pay$47,570

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Sewers, Hand

BLS projects employment of sewers, hand to decline 12% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
5,300 → 4,600
-600 jobs
Projected change
-12%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
58.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Sewers, Hand

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.9
  • Time Management2.8
  • Active Listening2.6
  • Complex Problem Solving2.6
  • Monitoring2.6
  • Speaking2.6
  • Critical Thinking2.5
  • Reading Comprehension2.5
  • Active Learning2.4
  • Operation and Control2.3
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service3.4
  • Administration and Management3.0
  • English Language2.9
  • Mechanical2.5
  • Education and Training2.4
  • Mathematics2.3
  • Design2.3
  • Production and Processing2.1
Software and technology used
Adobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointAdobe FreeHand MXCorel CorelDraw Graphics SuiteDrawing softwareEmbroidery design softwareGraphics digitizing softwareTemplate design software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What sewers, hand do

  • 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.
  • Fit garments on clients, altering as needed.
  • Smooth seams with heated irons, flat bones, or rubbing sticks.
  • Draw and cut patterns according to specifications.
Also called
Alteration SpecialistCouturierCustom ClothierSeamstressCustom DesignerCustom SeamstressStitcher
More job titles for this occupation (37)
Apparel SpecialistBale SewerBaseball Hand SewerBeadworkerCasing SewerCloth Bale HeaderClothierCustom Apparel SpecialistEmbroidery SpecialistFabric SpecialistFeather StitcherFoundation MakerHand FinisherHand KnitterHand QuilterHand SewerHand Shoes SewerHand Sole SewerHand StitcherHand Umbrella TipperHand WeaverHat MakerHat MenderHosiery MenderKnit Goods MenderKnitterLamp Shade SewerMattress and Foundation SewerMattress FinisherMattress SewerMattress SpecialistPassementerie WorkerPelota MakerSewerSewing Alteration SpecialistThread MarkerUmbrella Tipper

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.