Annual Salary
£20,000 to £40,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Design or Fashion & textiles or go back to all job sectors
Tailors make or alter custom clothes for individual customers.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends;
There will be
4.8% fewer Tailor jobs in 2027.
As a tailor, you would:
You could also carry out repairs and alterations for customers.
You could work in a workshop or in a factory.
You can get into this job through:
You could start by doing a degree in:
You'll usually need:
You could take a college course to develop your sewing, pattern cutting and design skills. Courses include:
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could do an apprenticeship to get started in this career, for example:
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.
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.
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.
You can get more information on a career in tailoring from The Bespoke Apprentice and UKFT Futures.
You can find out more about creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.
With experience, you could:supervise a workshop team of cutters and tailors; become a head or master tailor with a company; move into training future tailors; set up your own business or work freelance
You can get more on a career in tailoring from The Bespoke Apprentice.
You'll need: