Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Knoxville, TN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $33,680 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,242 take-home, or $2,437 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,862
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,088
- Medicare (1.45%)$488
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$29,242
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,010 | $9.14 | $17,265 | $1,439 |
| 25th percentile | $19,130 | $9.20 | $17,364 | $1,447 |
| Median (50th) | $33,680 | $16.19 | $29,242 | $2,437 |
| 75th percentile | $44,710 | $21.50 | $38,104 | $3,175 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,670 | $22.44 | $39,679 | $3,307 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,680 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $29,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,589 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Knoxville, TN has 1.8× 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
Knoxville, TN ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $33,680 | $29,242 | $31,589 |
*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 Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $37,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Knoxville, TN?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $33,680 a year, or about $16.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $19,130 and $44,710.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $33,680 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $29,242 a year ($2,437 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,589 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #20 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 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 Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $64,300
- Tool and Die Maker — $63,180
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $59,120
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $51,170
- Machinist — $49,900
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,040
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,920
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,130
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $45,450
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $45,420
- Helpers--Production Worker — $41,330
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,560