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The average salary for an Alteration Specialist as of October 2025 is $37,091 per year or about $18 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry segment. For example, alteration specialists working in high-demand urban areas may command higher wages compared to those in rural settings.
Entry-level positions typically start lower, around $28,000 annually, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $50,000, especially in specialized tailoring roles. Experience plays a crucial role in salary growth, with many professionals seeing substantial increases over time.
States such as California, New York, and Texas often offer the highest salaries for alteration specialists, reflecting the demand and cost of living in these regions. Additionally, positions in upscale retail settings tend to pay more than those in standard clothing shops.
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The highest-paying states for alteration specialists are Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Ohio. The lowest average alteration specialist salary states are Virginia, Arkansas, and Georgia.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $58,705 | $28.22 |
| 2 | Delaware | $51,748 | $24.88 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $50,858 | $24.45 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $51,919 | $24.96 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $52,495 | $25.24 |
| 6 | Ohio | $52,951 | $25.46 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $53,203 | $25.58 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $50,355 | $24.21 |
| 9 | New York | $50,489 | $24.27 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $47,885 | $23.02 |
| 11 | Alaska | $48,014 | $23.08 |
| 12 | Montana | $49,899 | $23.99 |
| 13 | Vermont | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $45,946 | $22.09 |
| 15 | Oregon | $47,810 | $22.99 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $48,649 | $23.39 |
| 17 | Michigan | $47,183 | $22.68 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $48,918 | $23.52 |
| 19 | Idaho | $41,403 | $19.91 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $41,914 | $20.15 |
| 21 | Iowa | $39,902 | $19.18 |
| 22 | Maine | $47,446 | $22.81 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $43,810 | $21.06 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $45,848 | $22.04 |
| 25 | Utah | $40,896 | $19.66 |
| 26 | Indiana | $42,627 | $20.49 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $48,348 | $23.24 |
| 28 | Illinois | $43,617 | $20.97 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 30 | Washington | $45,184 | $21.72 |
| 31 | California | $45,111 | $21.69 |
| 32 | Nevada | $40,722 | $19.58 |
| 33 | Arizona | $37,359 | $17.96 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $43,627 | $20.97 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $37,890 | $18.22 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $36,623 | $17.61 |
| 38 | Missouri | $40,663 | $19.55 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $39,875 | $19.17 |
| 40 | Colorado | $38,981 | $18.74 |
| 41 | Maryland | $37,793 | $18.17 |
| 42 | Georgia | $32,412 | $15.58 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $33,589 | $16.15 |
| 44 | Kansas | $35,514 | $17.07 |
| 45 | Florida | $31,065 | $14.94 |
| 46 | Alabama | $29,845 | $14.35 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,225 | $16.94 |
| 48 | Virginia | $33,651 | $16.18 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $34,842 | $16.75 |
| 50 | Texas | $30,509 | $14.67 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $33,760 | $16.23 |
The highest-paying cities for alteration specialists are New York, NY, Boston, MA, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $50,725 | $24.39 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $48,797 | $23.46 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,975 | $21.14 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $32,759 | $15.75 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $30,604 | $14.71 |
An alteration specialist's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $37,091 | $3,091 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of alteration specialists are specialist, alterations supervisor, and tailor garment fitter.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tailor Fitter | $34,561 | $2,880 | $16.62 | 2,281 |
| Alterations Tailor | $34,125 | $2,844 | $16.41 | 1,025 |
Top companies hiring alteration specialists now:
Alteration specialist salaries at Scheels and Louis Vuitton are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average alteration specialist salary at companies like David's Bridal and CHANEL are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scheels | $31,397 | $15.09 |
| 2 | Louis Vuitton | $30,742 | $14.78 |
| 3 | David's Bridal | $30,658 | $14.74 |
| 4 | CHANEL | $30,538 | $14.68 |
The average alteration specialist salary has risen by $7,307 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average alteration specialist earned $29,784 annually, but today, they earn $37,091 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for alteration specialists over the last decade.
Compare alteration specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare alteration specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $37,100 | $17.83 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $35,800 | $17.22 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $35,200 | $16.94 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | $32,500 | $15.63 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | $32,100 | $15.43 | +8.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniqlo | Alterations Specialist | Mission Viejo, CA | 06/10/2025 | $38,610 |
| Uniqlo | Retail Alterations Specialist or | Columbia, MD | 06/04/2025 | $38,610 |
| Uniqlo New Jersey | Retail Alterations Specialist or | Cherry Hill, NJ | 03/19/2025 | $31,305 |
| Fast Retailing USA, Inc. | Retail Alterations Specialist or | New York, NY | 02/18/2025 | $36,523 |
| David's Bridal Inc. | Lead Alterations Specialist | Fairview Heights, IL | 02/17/2025 | $31,305 |
| David's Bridal Inc. | Lead Alterations Specialist | Omaha, NE | 02/17/2025 | $43,305 |
| Fast Retailing USA, Inc. | Retail Alterations Specialist or | Rhode Island | 02/17/2025 | $30,262 |
| Fast Retailing USA, Inc. | Retail Alterations Specialist or | Framingham, MA | 02/17/2025 | $36,523 |
| Fast Retailing USA, Inc. | Retail Alterations Specialist or-New Store | Newark, DE | 02/17/2025 | $33,392 |
| David's Bridal Inc. | Alterations Specialist | Delray Beach, FL | 02/16/2025 | $27,131 |
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