Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Portland, OR
Sewing Machine Operators in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $41,980 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,067 take-home, or $2,756 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,858
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,603
- Medicare (1.45%)$609
- Oregon income tax$2,844
- Take-home pay$33,067
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,890 | $16.29 | $27,275 | $2,273 |
| 25th percentile | $38,400 | $18.46 | $30,504 | $2,542 |
| Median (50th) | $41,980 | $20.18 | $33,067 | $2,756 |
| 75th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 | $38,151 | $3,179 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,320 | $25.63 | $41,187 | $3,432 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,980 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $33,067 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,367 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 Portland, OR than nationally (location quotient 0.77), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | Portland, OR | $41,980 | $33,067 | $31,367 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Portland, OR?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $41,980 a year, or about $20.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,400 and $49,080.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $41,980 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $33,067 a year ($2,756 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,844 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,367 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #22 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Portland, OR
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $83,860
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,510
- Machinist — $64,170
- Semiconductor Processing Technician — $62,810
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $62,050
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $59,360
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $58,680
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $58,460
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $57,110
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $53,680
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $52,640
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $51,980