Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Kansas City, MO
Sewing Machine Operators in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area earn a median $36,640 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,835 take-home, or $2,570 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Kansas City, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,217
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,272
- Medicare (1.45%)$531
- Missouri income tax$785
- Take-home pay$30,835
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The Kansas City, MO-KS metro spans Missouri, Kansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Kansas City, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $26,720 | $2,227 |
| 25th percentile | $34,930 | $16.79 | $29,542 | $2,462 |
| Median (50th) | $36,640 | $17.62 | $30,835 | $2,570 |
| 75th percentile | $38,650 | $18.58 | $32,356 | $2,696 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,000 | $21.15 | $36,403 | $3,034 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,640 buys in Kansas City, MO
Prices in Kansas City, MO are 7.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $30,835 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,320 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sewing Machine Operator jobs are about as common in Kansas City, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Kansas City, MO ranks #8 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 |
*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 Missouri
- St. Louis, MO — $36,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Kansas City, MO?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area is $36,640 a year, or about $17.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,930 and $38,650.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Kansas City, MO?
On the median $36,640 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $30,835 a year ($2,570 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $785 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is Kansas City, MO a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 7.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,320 would in a typical U.S. city. Kansas City, MO ranks #8 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Kansas City, MO is $1,193 a month ($1,355 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Kansas City, MO
- Tool and Die Maker — $85,740
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,080
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $63,000
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $58,260
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $57,500
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $57,370
- Machinist — $56,740
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $54,990
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $52,840
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $52,770
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $51,010
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,180