Jobs Similar to Sewers (Hand)
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sewers (hand), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers, Bakers and Sewing Machine Operators.
Sewers (Hand): $36,480 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Sewers (Hand)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom SewersSame group | 73% | $41,640+14% | High school |
| 2 | Bakers | 73% | $37,160+2% | High school |
| 3 | Sewing Machine OperatorsSame group | 72% | $36,670+1% | High school |
| 4 | Shoe and Leather Workers and RepairersSame group | 72% | $37,800+4% | High school |
| 5 | Carpet Installers | 72% | $50,340+38% | High school |
| 6 | Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing | 70% | $46,170Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 7 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | 70% | $41,600+14% | High school |
| 8 | Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | 70% | $48,220+32% | High school |
| 9 | Furniture Finishers | 70% | $44,540+22% | High school |
| 10 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | 69% | $37,450+3% | High school |
| 11 | Insulation Workers, Mechanical | 69% | $58,340+60% | High school |
| 12 | Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators | 69% | $46,880+29% | High school |
| 13 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | 69% | $56,460+55% | High school |
| 14 | Paperhangers | 68% | $52,140+43% | High school |
| 15 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 68% | $53,750+47% | High school |
| 16 | Fabric and Apparel PatternmakersSame group | 68% | $62,750+72% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Plasterers and Stucco Masons | 68% | $57,660+58% | High school |
| 18 | Model Makers, Wood | 68% | $56,550+55% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Animal Breeders | 68% | $51,130+40% | High school |
| 20 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 67% | $52,540+44% | Training or associate |
- 1Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
73% similar · $41,640 (+14%) · High school · Same group
- 2Bakers
73% similar · $37,160 (+2%) · High school
- 3Sewing Machine Operators
72% similar · $36,670 (+1%) · High school · Same group
- 4Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
72% similar · $37,800 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 5Carpet Installers
72% similar · $50,340 (+38%) · High school
- 6Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing
70% similar · $46,170 (broader group) · High school
- 7Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
70% similar · $41,600 (+14%) · High school
- 8Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
70% similar · $48,220 (+32%) · High school
- 9Furniture Finishers
70% similar · $44,540 (+22%) · High school
- 10Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
69% similar · $37,450 (+3%) · High school
- 11Insulation Workers, Mechanical
69% similar · $58,340 (+60%) · High school
- 12Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
69% similar · $46,880 (+29%) · High school
- 13Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles
69% similar · $56,460 (+55%) · High school
- 14Paperhangers
68% similar · $52,140 (+43%) · High school
- 15Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
68% similar · $53,750 (+47%) · High school
- 16Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
68% similar · $62,750 (+72%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 17Plasterers and Stucco Masons
68% similar · $57,660 (+58%) · High school
- 18Model Makers, Wood
68% similar · $56,550 (+55%) · Training or associate
- 19Animal Breeders
68% similar · $51,130 (+40%) · High school
- 20Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
67% similar · $52,540 (+44%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sewers (hand).
- Insulation Workers, Mechanical69% similar · $58,340 (+60%)
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons68% similar · $57,660 (+58%)
- Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles69% similar · $56,460 (+55%)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers68% similar · $53,750 (+47%)
- Paperhangers68% similar · $52,140 (+43%)
- Animal Breeders68% similar · $51,130 (+40%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sewers (hand) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sewers (hand) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like sewers (hand)
What jobs are most similar to sewers (hand)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers (73% similar), Bakers (73% similar), Sewing Machine Operators (72% similar), Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers (72% similar) and Carpet Installers (72% similar).
Which jobs like sewers (hand) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($62,750, +72%; usually training or an associate degree), Insulation Workers (Mechanical) ($58,340, +60%; usually a high school diploma) and Plasterers and Stucco Masons ($57,660, +58%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sewers (hand) ($36,480). Without more preparation than sewers (hand) usually need: Insulation Workers (Mechanical), Plasterers and Stucco Masons and Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.