Sewing Machine Operator Salary
Sewing Machine Operators earn a median $36,670 a year nationally. Production Occupations
U.S. median
$36,670
$17.63 per hour
Range
$27,860 – $47,840
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
104,880
across the U.S.
▲1.9%
Pay trend: The median for sewing machine operators in the U.S. rose from $36,000 (May 2024) to $36,670 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.5%.
What sewing machine operators do
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)
- Openings per year
- 9,800
- Self-employed
- 11%
Employment of sewing machine operators is projected to shrink 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 9,800 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Sewing Machine Operator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$31,644
per year · effective tax rate 13.7%
$2,637Monthly
$1,319Twice a month
$1,217Every 2 weeks
$15.21Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,220
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,274
- Medicare (1.45%)$532
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,644
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,860 | $13.39 | $24,553 |
| 25th percentile | $31,960 | $15.37 | $27,860 |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | $17.63 | $31,644 |
| 75th percentile | $42,830 | $20.59 | $36,594 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,840 | $23.00 | $40,619 |
Best cities for sewing machine operators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $35,260 | $30,511 | $29,597 | 2,420 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $36,220 | $29,635 | $28,606 | 3,450 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $37,780 | $31,093 | $27,623 | 6,700 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,130 | $31,057 | $27,347 | 9,310 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $30,620 | $26,783 | $23,462 | 3,680 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $37,780
- Los Angeles, CA — $37,130
- Chicago, IL — $36,220
- Dallas, TX — $35,260
- Miami, FL — $30,620
Sewing Machine Operator salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 | +12.8% | $38,940 | $30,730 – $55,550 | 910 |
| Alaska | $43,850 | +2.5% | $37,413 | $34,750 – $64,850 | 40 |
| Colorado | $43,840 | +13.6% | $36,185 | $35,250 – $55,050 | 970 |
| Maine | $43,520 | +8.3% | $35,392 | $32,760 – $49,460 | 700 |
| Washington | $43,360 | +4.4% | $37,020 | $37,180 – $50,180 | 1,600 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 | +6.3% | $34,733 | $35,580 – $53,990 | 1,540 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 | +0.8% | $35,718 | $28,850 – $56,380 | 190 |
| Vermont | $40,850 | +2.5% | $34,068 | $29,140 – $51,630 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 | +3.7% | $33,622 | $30,860 – $50,080 | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 | +2.5% | $33,692 | $34,690 – $47,310 | 1,420 |
| Oregon | $39,780 | +4.8% | $31,492 | $33,770 – $51,260 | 1,250 |
| Hawaii | $39,230 | +7.5% | $32,183 | $32,210 – $60,810 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $39,000 | +2.3% | $33,517 | $28,350 – $47,030 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $38,930 | −3.9% | $32,196 | $33,940 – $51,910 | 1,890 |
| Rhode Island | $38,670 | −6.3% | $32,418 | $31,200 – $51,180 | 270 |
| New York | $38,480 | +1.8% | $31,618 | $33,790 – $55,290 | 6,130 |
| Indiana | $38,440 | +3.7% | $31,962 | $30,060 – $51,180 | 3,400 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 | +10.4% | $31,776 | $26,690 – $47,210 | 2,460 |
| California | $37,940 | +2.5% | $31,665 | $34,950 – $49,040 | 13,240 |
| Connecticut | $37,780 | +1.5% | $31,761 | $34,010 – $47,260 | 480 |
| Delaware | $37,690 | +6.7% | $31,049 | $31,200 – $47,330 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 | −2.8% | $31,620 | $26,840 – $44,220 | 2,270 |
| Michigan | $37,490 | −0.3% | $30,961 | $30,200 – $46,790 | 3,210 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | +7.7% | $31,177 | $28,790 – $49,280 | 410 |
| Nebraska | $37,060 | +1.9% | $31,151 | $29,610 – $44,450 | 300 |
| Montana | $36,740 | −1.3% | $30,731 | $24,290 – $50,370 | 190 |
| Wyoming | $36,510 | +4.8% | $31,516 | $30,440 – $46,610 | 110 |
| Illinois | $36,220 | +1.9% | $29,635 | $33,060 – $46,720 | 4,060 |
| New Jersey | $36,130 | +3.0% | $30,663 | $32,220 – $46,170 | 2,750 |
| Iowa | $35,870 | −2.5% | $30,290 | $28,890 – $47,270 | 590 |
| Maryland | $35,860 | +1.3% | $29,654 | $31,200 – $55,390 | 1,390 |
| Virginia | $35,790 | +7.5% | $29,693 | $27,470 – $46,760 | 2,010 |
| Ohio | $35,760 | +1.0% | $30,712 | $29,530 – $43,890 | 4,100 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 | −8.7% | $30,865 | $27,950 – $55,080 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,640 | −1.8% | $29,723 | $28,340 – $45,510 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $35,630 | +16.3% | $29,632 | $27,810 – $45,660 | 860 |
| Missouri | $35,610 | +2.0% | $30,056 | $29,550 – $43,240 | 2,320 |
| Utah | $35,550 | −5.1% | $30,111 | $29,870 – $45,590 | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $35,360 | +1.6% | $29,417 | $28,380 – $46,070 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $35,160 | −0.0% | $29,537 | $26,560 – $48,570 | 8,290 |
| New Mexico | $34,840 | +1.8% | $29,643 | $28,620 – $42,240 | 220 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | +3.2% | $28,951 | $26,950 – $42,100 | 3,420 |
| Tennessee | $34,220 | +6.1% | $29,676 | $19,130 – $46,800 | 3,300 |
| Oklahoma | $33,340 | +3.4% | $28,014 | $23,850 – $44,350 | 580 |
| Florida | $33,270 | +6.2% | $28,912 | $27,360 – $46,230 | 6,790 |
| Texas | $31,000 | +1.7% | $27,089 | $21,420 – $44,290 | 6,950 |
| Alabama | $30,830 | +2.3% | $25,675 | $23,830 – $41,330 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $29,600 | +3.2% | $25,462 | $21,180 – $38,100 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $29,460 | +1.4% | $24,938 | $22,350 – $39,880 | 2,750 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 | −7.7% | $24,995 | $21,960 – $44,780 | 180 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | No formal educational credential | -12.0% |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $37,280 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.4% |
| Shoe Machine Operator and Tender | $35,650 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.9% |
| Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer | $37,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.5% |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender | $38,180 | High school diploma or equivalent | -12.5% |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,060 | No formal educational credential | -15.7% |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker | $34,890 | No formal educational credential | +4.3% |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,670 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.3% |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.6% |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | High school diploma or equivalent | -13.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make?
The national median salary for sewing machine operators is $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,860 and the top 10% earn over $47,840. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays sewing machine operators the most?
Nevada has the highest median pay at $45,750. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many sewing machine operators are there in the U.S.?
About 104,880 people work as sewing machine operators nationwide.