Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $37,130 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,057 take-home, or $2,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,276
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,302
- Medicare (1.45%)$538
- California income tax$475
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$483
- Take-home pay$31,057
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,910 | $16.78 | $29,391 | $2,449 |
| 25th percentile | $36,310 | $17.46 | $30,441 | $2,537 |
| Median (50th) | $37,130 | $17.85 | $31,057 | $2,588 |
| 75th percentile | $43,250 | $20.79 | $35,650 | $2,971 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,490 | $23.31 | $39,552 | $3,296 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,130 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $31,057 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,347 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.2× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $35,260 | $30,511 | $29,597 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $36,220 | $29,635 | $28,606 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $37,780 | $31,093 | $27,623 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,130 | $31,057 | $27,347 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $30,620 | $26,783 | $23,462 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: sewing machine operators
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -15.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $37,130 a year, or about $17.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,310 and $43,250.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $37,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $31,057 a year ($2,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $957 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,347 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 87% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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