Sewers, Hand

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

Also called: Alteration Specialist, Couturier, Custom Clothier, Custom Designer, Custom Seamstress, Seamstress, Stitcher, Apparel Specialist, Bale Sewer, Baseball Hand Sewer, Beadworker, Casing Sewer, Cloth Bale Header, Clothier, Custom Apparel Specialist, Embroidery Specialist, Fabric Specialist, Feather Stitcher, Foundation Maker, Hand Finisher, Hand Knitter, Hand Quilter, Hand Sewer, Hand Shoes Sewer, Hand Sole Sewer, Hand Stitcher, Hand Umbrella Tipper, Hand Weaver, Hat Maker, Hat Mender, Hosiery Mender, Knit Goods Mender, Knitter, Lamp Shade Sewer, Mattress and Foundation Sewer, Mattress Finisher, Mattress Sewer, Mattress Specialist, Passementerie Worker, Pelota Maker, Sewer, Sewing Alteration Specialist, Thread Marker, Umbrella Tipper

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Learning
Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (82.18% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

33,330–40,720 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 51-6051.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Less than a High School Diploma (82.18% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Sewers, Hand