Tailor
Create custom-made (bespoke) clothing for men and women.
About the job
Salary (before tax)
Entry
£20,000
Experienced
£40,000
In this job, new workers in Scotland start around £20,000 per year. Experienced workers can earn up to £40,000.
Source:
National Careers ServiceWhat it's like
You would create custom-made (bespoke) clothing for men and women.
You may make the whole garment, or work in a team where each member has a specialism.
When making a new item of clothing for a client, you would:
Take measurements and agree a style and fabric
Work out how much it will cost and how long it will take to make
Create a design, either by hand or using computer software
Create a new pattern or adapt an existing one
Make a mock-up garment using cheap fabrics, fit it and make any changes
Cut out fabric pieces
Fit the garment again and make any final adjustments
Stitch the garment together, often using hand stitching
Clients could also come to you for changes and repairs to clothing bought elsewhere.
Hours
You would usually work around 40 hours a week, though this can be more when there are deadlines. You may need to work occasional evenings and weekends to carry out customer fittings.
Environment
You would be based in a sewing room, which may be attached to a shop or small factory. You may spend a lot of time doing close-up work.
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Top skills
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It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From April 2024 to April 2025.
- garment alterations
- sewing
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking initiative
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- respecting
- empathising
- observation
- creative
- verbal communication
- supporting
Your skills are important
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Getting in
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