jobfacts

Tailor

Tailors and dressmakers — SOC 2020 5413

Tailors and dressmakers prepare patterns and make, fit and alter tailored garments, dresses and other articles of clothing.

Also calledBespoke tailorDressmakerSeamsterPattern cutterCostume cutterCutterand 105 more titles
Typical full-time pay£25,2002025 Provisional
People in the job12,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month172↓ 5.2%on last year · 356th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time tailors earn, 2025
£25,200 typicaln/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less thanNot published
25%Not published
Median£25,200
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £25,200
North West!£24,100
North EastNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £25,200
North West£24,100 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £23,300
  • 2024 £24,800
  • 2025 Provisional£25,200
↑ 8% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 172 jobs for tailors are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026208
Jul 2026180
Jun 2026188
May 2026161
Apr 2026150
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026163
Jan 2026199
Dec 202580
Nov 2025180
Oct 2025191
Sept 2025189
Aug 2025188
Jul 2025196
Jun 2025227
May 2025187
Apr 2025172
Mar 2025189
Feb 2025183
Jan 2025163
Dec 2024105
Nov 2024142
Oct 2024197
Sept 2024232
Aug 2024210
Jul 2024229
Jun 2024224
May 2024217
Apr 2024210
Mar 2024211
Feb 2024196
Jan 2024180
Dec 2023126
Nov 2023142
Oct 2023125
Sept 2023142
Aug 2023185
Jul 2023179
Jun 2023296
May 2023276
Apr 2023188
Mar 2023218
Feb 2023237
Jan 2023285
Dec 2022215
Nov 2022270
Oct 2022749
Sept 2022593
Aug 2022507
Jul 2022404
Jun 2022355
May 2022425
Apr 2022293
Mar 2022289
Feb 2022302
Jan 2022397
Dec 2021301
Nov 2021444
Oct 2021721
Sept 2021409
Aug 2021271
Jul 2021273
Jun 2021273
May 2021263
Apr 2021220
Mar 2021290
Feb 2021215
Jan 2021183
Dec 2020175
Nov 2020231
Oct 2020299
Sept 2020282
Aug 2020191
Jul 2020110
Jun 202091
May 202057
Apr 202082
Mar 2020185
Feb 2020312
Jan 2020209
Dec 2019128
Nov 2019283
Oct 2019317
Sept 2019333
Aug 2019231
Jul 2019283
Jun 2019280
May 2019269
Apr 2019180
Mar 2019211
Feb 2019203
Jan 2019241
Dec 2018158
Nov 2018260
Oct 2018268
Sept 2018246
Aug 2018182
Jul 2018256
Jun 2018227
May 2018202
Apr 2018197
Mar 2018211
Feb 2018259
Jan 2018269
Dec 2017167
Nov 2017188
Oct 2017200
Sept 2017249
Aug 2017236
Jul 2017211
Jun 2017293
May 2017355
Apr 2017297
Mar 2017344
Feb 2017221
Jan 2017264
Is there a shortage of tailors?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Note: uncertainty in change in hourly wage.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
50%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for textiles, printing and other skilled trades, which includes tailors. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London86
City of Edinburgh16
Glasgow City12
Bristol, City of8
Manchester8
Birmingham8
Leeds8
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole8
Mid Ulster7
Milton Keynes7
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where tailors are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of tailors
35%!
n/p
n/p
29%!
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
25–3435% (small sample)
35–44Not published
45–54Not published
55–6429% (small sample)
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!44%
Higher education below degree–
Not published
A levels or equivalent!22%
GCSEs or equivalent!8.3%
Other qualifications!13%
No qualifications!19%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent44% (small sample)
Higher education below degreeNot published
A levels or equivalent22% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent8.3% (small sample)
Other qualifications13% (small sample)
No qualifications19% (small sample)

Main employers: retail sale of clothing in specialised stores (26%), repair of other personal and household goods (7.4%), manufacture of other outerwear (7.3%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
44%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
6
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
15 months to 2 years
typically
T Levels
1
college courses for 16 to 19 year olds

Routes in

Tailor

You can get into this job through:

University

You could start by doing a degree in:

  • fashion design
  • fashion and textiles
  • bespoke tailoring
  • fashion atelier and tailoring
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a foundation diploma in art and design
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could take a college course to develop your sewing, pattern cutting and design skills. Courses include:

  • fashion and textiles
  • fashion design
  • bespoke tailoring
  • T Level in Craft and Design
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could do an apprenticeship to get started in this career, for example:

  • Garment Maker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Fashion and Textiles Pattern Cutter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Bespoke Tailor and Cutter Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship

These can take around 2 years to complete.

You may be able to get into the industry through the Savile Row Bespoke Association (SRBA) apprenticeship programme. This can take between 2 and 6 years to complete.

You would apply directly to SRBA member tailoring companies. Competition for places is strong.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Work your way up

You could start by working as an assistant to a master tailor in a tailoring house. You may be able to arrange this yourself, if you can show you have a keen interest in making clothes and have sewing skills.

You can find information on tailoring houses from The Bespoke Apprentice.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

If you are aged between 13 and 16 you can find out more about careers in the fashion and textiles industry and learn new skills through the National Saturday Club, which is supported by the British Fashion Council.

Further information

You can get more information on a career in tailoring from The Bespoke Apprentice and UKFT Futures.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for tailor. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Dressmaker

You can get into this job through:

College

You could take a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need for this job. Courses include:

  • fashion
  • fashion and textiles
  • pattern cutting
  • T Level in Craft and Design
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a clothing company, such as:

  • Sewing Machinist Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Garment Maker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Fashion and Textiles Pattern Cutter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Apply directly

You can apply directly to work as a dressmaker. You'll need experience in dressmaking and fashion, and the ability to demonstrate to employers and clients that you have the skills they are looking for.

Other routes

You can find short courses in dressmaking techniques at adult education centres and with private training providers. These cover how to use a sewing machine, pattern making and pattern cutting.

You can also find guides and tutorials online.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

It's a good idea to keep a portfolio of your designs and work to showcase your skills and creative ideas to employers and clients.

Further information

You can find out more about garment making and dressmaking from UK Fashion and Textiles (UKFT).

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for dressmaker. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pattern cutter

You can get into this job through:

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in fashion design or garment technology.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course, which may help you to find a trainee position with a manufacturer or fashion design studio. For example:

  • fashion - pattern cutting
  • fashion design
  • fashion and textiles
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship to learn the skills needed to become a pattern cutter.

For example:

  • Material Cutter Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Fashion and Textiles Pattern Cutter Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Fashion and Textiles Product Technologist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These apprenticeships can take between 1 and 2 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with off-site study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work your way up

You could start as a pattern cutting assistant or sample machinist with a clothing manufacturer, or fashion design company, and work your way up by training on the job.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

To get onto courses and find jobs, you'll usually need a portfolio of your work to show off your skills and creative ideas.

Further information

You can get more information about a career as a pattern cutter from UK Fashion and Textiles (UKFT) and Get Into Theatre.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for pattern cutter. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

6 for this job
Level 3About 18 months

Assistant puppet maker

Employers may ask for
Level 3 and above apprenticeships Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Other qualifications

QualificationTypeLevel
Craft and designT Level3

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • takes customer’s measurements and discusses required style and material
  • prepares individual or adapts stock pattern
  • examines fabrics or skins for flaws and prepares materials for cutting
  • arranges pattern on correct grain of fabric, marks position and cuts out garment parts with hand shears, electric knife or cutting machine
  • pins/tacks and fits garment on customer or dummy model and makes any necessary alterations
  • sews garment parts together by hand or machine, makes buttonholes and sews on fasteners and trimmings
  • shapes garment by pressing seams, pleats, etc.
  • makes alterations to finished garments according to customer’s requirements

Skills

  • create patterns for garments
  • make technical drawings of fashion pieces
  • analyse scanned data of the body
  • coordinate manufacturing production activities
  • use 3D scanners for clothing
  • use pattern-cutting softwares
  • cut fabrics
  • distinguish accessories
  • distinguish fabrics
  • draw sketches to develop textile articles using softwares
  • grade patterns for wearing apparel
  • operate computerised control systems
  • operate garment manufacturing machines
  • prepare production prototypes

Knowledge

  • CAD for garment manufacturing
  • standard sizing systems for clothing
  • properties of fabrics
  • 3D body scanning technologies
  • apparel manufacturing technology
  • manufacturing of made-up textile articles
  • manufacturing of wearing apparel
  • leather goods components

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Creating and designing

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for textiles, printing and other skilled trades, a group of 17 jobs that includes tailors.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035→ 0%about 0 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035276,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the 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. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.