Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Spartanburg, SC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Spartanburg, SC metro area earn a median $38,530 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,984 take-home, or $2,665 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Spartanburg, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,444
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,389
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- South Carolina income tax$1,155
- Take-home pay$31,984
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Spartanburg, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,040 | $14.44 | $25,672 | $2,139 |
| 25th percentile | $36,530 | $17.56 | $30,497 | $2,541 |
| Median (50th) | $38,530 | $18.52 | $31,984 | $2,665 |
| 75th percentile | $45,230 | $21.75 | $36,966 | $3,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,380 | $24.22 | $40,795 | $3,400 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,530 buys in Spartanburg, SC
Prices in Spartanburg, SC are 8.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 32% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $31,984 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,128 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Spartanburg, SC has 5.0× 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
Spartanburg, SC ranks #5 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 Spartanburg, SC?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Spartanburg, SC metro area is $38,530 a year, or about $18.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,530 and $45,230.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Spartanburg, SC?
On the median $38,530 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $31,984 a year ($2,665 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,155 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Spartanburg, SC a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 8.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,128 would in a typical U.S. city. Spartanburg, SC ranks #5 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Spartanburg, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Spartanburg, SC is $1,061 a month ($1,176 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Spartanburg, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $92,070
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $59,300
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,820
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,160
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $48,990
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,370
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $46,530
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $44,260
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $42,300