Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Providence, RI
Sewing Machine Operators in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area earn a median $38,160 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,027 take-home, or $2,669 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Providence, RI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,399
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,366
- Medicare (1.45%)$553
- Rhode Island income tax$814
- Take-home pay$32,027
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.75% state
The Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro spans Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Providence, RI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,050 | $15.89 | $28,113 | $2,343 |
| 25th percentile | $36,040 | $17.33 | $30,404 | $2,534 |
| Median (50th) | $38,160 | $18.35 | $32,027 | $2,669 |
| 75th percentile | $45,700 | $21.97 | $37,803 | $3,150 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,560 | $24.31 | $41,526 | $3,460 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Rhode Island resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,160 buys in Providence, RI
Prices in Providence, RI are 1.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.04× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $32,027 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,469 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Providence, RI has 1.7× 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
Providence, RI ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Providence, RI | $38,160 | $32,027 | $31,469 |
*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 Providence, RI?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is $38,160 a year, or about $18.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,040 and $45,700.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Providence, RI?
On the median $38,160 salary, a single filer living in Rhode Island takes home about $32,027 a year ($2,669 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $814 in Rhode Island taxes in 2026.
Is Providence, RI a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 1.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,469 would in a typical U.S. city. Providence, RI ranks #21 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Providence, RI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Providence, RI is $1,423 a month ($1,774 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Providence, RI
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $78,680
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $62,440
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,660
- Machinist — $58,950
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $57,790
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $56,020
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $52,800
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,790
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,830
- Jeweler and Precious Stone and Metal Worker — $48,800
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $46,540
- Printing Press Operator — $45,390