Alteration Specialist
Impact: Direct client satisfaction, personal appearance, sustainability (repair vs. replace)
Modifies and repairs garments to achieve a perfect fit for clients. This involves taking measurements, performing fittings, and using sewing machines and hand-sewing techniques to adjust clothing items like dresses, suits, and casual wear.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- Solo
- Client facing
- Always
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- None
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40 hours/week
- Stress level
- Low
At a glance
- Median salary
- $32,000
- Entry-level
- $25,000
- Senior
- $45,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- High
- Salary growth potential
- 30%
- Typical student debt
- $0
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Sewing Techniques
- Garment Construction
- Pattern Alteration
- Fabric Knowledge
- Measurement Taking
Soft skills
- Attention to Detail
- Customer Service
- Problem-Solving
- Manual Dexterity
- Patience
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Easy
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Can advance to tailor, costume designer, or open own alteration business.
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15%
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7/10
- Meaning
- 6.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 7.5/10
- Prestige
- 4.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate