Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the cut and sew apparel contractors industry earns $45,519 per year ($21.88/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Cut and Sew Apparel Workers Earn?
At $45,519/year (equivalent to $21.88/hour for a full-time worker), cut and sew apparel contractors wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.
Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.
The typical cut and sew apparel contractors business employs 10 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average cut and sew apparel contractors business generating $1.6M/year with 10 employees at $45,519 each, total payroll represents roughly 27.6% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a cut and sew apparel contractorsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $59,175/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 10 employees = ~$455,190/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $21.88/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $1.6M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do cut and sew apparel contractors employees make?
- The average cut and sew apparel contractors employee earns $45,519 per year, which is equivalent to $21.88/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the cut and sew apparel contractors industry?
- The cut and sew apparel contractors industry employs 22,686 workers across 2,357 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 10 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).