Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Tampa, FL
Sewing Machine Operators in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median $35,320 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,560 take-home, or $2,547 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Tampa, FL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,058
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,190
- Medicare (1.45%)$512
- Florida income tax$0
- Take-home pay$30,560
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Tampa, FL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,180 | $13.07 | $23,993 | $1,999 |
| 25th percentile | $29,550 | $14.21 | $25,923 | $2,160 |
| Median (50th) | $35,320 | $16.98 | $30,560 | $2,547 |
| 75th percentile | $36,750 | $17.67 | $31,709 | $2,642 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,770 | $22.00 | $38,956 | $3,246 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Florida resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,320 buys in Tampa, FL
Prices in Tampa, FL are 0.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.26× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $30,560 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,290 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 Tampa, FL than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Tampa, FL ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Tampa, FL | $35,320 | $30,560 | $30,290 |
*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 Florida
- Orlando, FL — $36,730
- Miami, FL — $30,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Tampa, FL?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $35,320 a year, or about $16.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,550 and $36,750.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Tampa, FL?
On the median $35,320 salary, a single filer living in Florida takes home about $30,560 a year ($2,547 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Tampa, FL a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 0.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,290 would in a typical U.S. city. Tampa, FL ranks #30 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Tampa, FL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Tampa, FL is $1,696 a month ($1,977 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Tampa, FL
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- Dental Laboratory Technician — $59,920
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $58,590
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- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,810
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