Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $35,360 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,506 take-home, or $2,459 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,063
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,192
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,086
- Take-home pay$29,506
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,890 | $13.89 | $24,506 | $2,042 |
| 25th percentile | $31,310 | $15.05 | $26,376 | $2,198 |
| Median (50th) | $35,360 | $17.00 | $29,506 | $2,459 |
| 75th percentile | $38,630 | $18.57 | $32,033 | $2,669 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,510 | $21.88 | $37,350 | $3,113 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,360 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $29,506 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,771 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 less concentrated in Philadelphia, PA than nationally (location quotient 0.72), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #38 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 |
| 38 | Philadelphia, PA | $35,360 | $29,506 | $28,771 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $35,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $35,360 a year, or about $17.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,310 and $38,630.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $35,360 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $29,506 a year ($2,459 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,086 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,771 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #38 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
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- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator — $79,720
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