Textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c.: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c. in the UK earned a median £26,573 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 32% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (37th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £22,305 a year, men £27,017 a year.
Since 2021 the median has risen 29.0% (from £20,604), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 11,500 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £12.52 |
| 40th percentile | £26,095 | £508.70 | £13.12 | £24,970* | £496.30* | £12.67 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £26,573 | £523.90 | £13.73 | £26,173* | £517.10 | £13.46 |
| 60th percentile | £27,098* | £550.00* | £14.25 | £26,772* | £534.50 | £14.09 |
| Mean | £27,644 | £543.60 | £14.29 | £25,292 | £498.30 | £14.21 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £20,604 | £422.20 | £10.50 | £20,070 | £408.30 | 8* |
| 2022 revised | £22,859* | £434.90 | £10.89 | £22,018* | £434.70 | 6* |
| 2023 revised | £23,069* | £480.30 | £12.76 | £21,504* | £450.50* | – |
| 2024 revised | £27,045* | £530.50* | £14.01 | £24,402* | £502.10* | 5* |
| 2025 provisional | £26,573 | £523.90 | £13.73 | £26,173* | £517.10 | – |
Textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c. by region
UK: 11,500 (± 4,200), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What textiles, garments and related trades n.e.c. do
Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of textiles and related craft occupations not elsewhere classified in minor group 541: Textiles, garments and related trades. (ONS SOC 2020, 5419)
Also covers: clothing manufacturer, embroiderer, hand sewer, knitter, sail maker, weaver, upholstery cutter, asbestos cutter, asbestos weaver, band maker, bandage cutter, bandage maker, base puller, baste puller, bias cutter, blocking machinist, body maker and brim shaper (229 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Marks out, cuts and sews corsets, light clothing and hoods and aprons and makes and repairs sails, boat covers and other canvas goods
- Fills and stuffs cushions, quilts, soft toys and furniture
- Examines sketches and draws out patterns for the manufacture of garments and upholstery
- Sets up and operates power and hand looms and machines to weave fibre into fabrics and carpets
- Knits garments and other articles form yarn by machine or by hand
- Shapes and steams fabric into hats or hoods and gives final shape to fibre helmets and felt hats
Entry does not depend on academic qualifications. Training is mainly on-the-job although relevant vocational courses and qualifications are available in some areas.
Related
Textiles and garments trades (median £26,868) · Tailors and dressmakers · Footwear and leather working trades · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026