Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Seattle, WA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $44,350 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,815 take-home, or $3,151 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,142
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,750
- Medicare (1.45%)$643
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,815
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,530 | $18.52 | $33,139 | $2,762 |
| 25th percentile | $40,480 | $19.46 | $34,706 | $2,892 |
| Median (50th) | $44,350 | $21.32 | $37,815 | $3,151 |
| 75th percentile | $46,470 | $22.34 | $39,519 | $3,293 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,300 | $24.18 | $42,596 | $3,550 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,350 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $37,815 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,027 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 Seattle, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #6 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 →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Seattle, WA?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $44,350 a year, or about $21.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,480 and $46,470.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $44,350 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $37,815 a year ($3,151 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,027 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #6 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Tool and Die Maker — $116,850
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers — $110,470
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $109,600
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $99,010
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $80,460
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $76,800
- Machinist — $74,560
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $67,230
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $66,240
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $65,980
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $64,020
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $63,030