Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Cleveland, OH
Sewing Machine Operators in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $35,760 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,712 take-home, or $2,559 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,111
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Ohio income tax$201
- Take-home pay$30,712
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,580 | $14.22 | $25,916 | $2,160 |
| 25th percentile | $33,630 | $16.17 | $29,059 | $2,422 |
| Median (50th) | $35,760 | $17.19 | $30,712 | $2,559 |
| 75th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 | $31,775 | $2,648 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,950 | $20.65 | $36,292 | $3,024 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,760 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $30,712 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,699 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cleveland, OH has 1.4× the national concentration of sewing machine operator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #13 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory, NC | $46,540 | $38,227 | $43,201 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,190 | $40,901 | $40,813 |
| 3 | Elkhart, IN | $40,130 | $33,270 | $36,834 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,210 | $37,225 | $35,191 |
| 5 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | $31,984 | $35,128 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $44,350 | $37,815 | $34,027 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $37,500 | $32,311 | $33,539 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $36,640 | $30,835 | $33,320 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $35,760 | $30,712 | $32,699 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Sewing Machine Operator salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Columbus, OH — $35,420
- Cincinnati, OH — $34,680
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Cleveland, OH?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $35,760 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,630 and $37,130.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $35,760 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $30,712 a year ($2,559 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $201 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,699 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #13 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,110
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender — $65,660
- Tool and Die Maker — $64,070
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $63,840
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $63,260
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $62,200
- Machinist — $58,240
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $53,370
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $51,370
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $50,210
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $49,070
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,040