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Sewing Machine Operators
Sews, fits and repairs clothing, shoes and furniture.
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Tailors and dressmakers alter and make clothes to fit, from hemming pants to wedding gowns. Sewing machine operators sew products in factories. Shoe and leather workers repair shoes, boots and bags. Patternmakers turn a design into the paper or digital pieces a garment is cut from. Upholsterers rebuild and re-cover chairs, sofas and car or boat seats. Many run their own small shops.
Open the tailor or upholsterer guide
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Pre-Algebra · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Physical Education · Health and PE
Builds teaching and training, which this job uses.
- Welding and Metal Fabrication · Career and Technical
Builds how things are made, which this job uses.
- U.S. History · Social Studies
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Physics · Science
Builds math, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Sewing Machine Operators on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.