How much does a sewing machine operator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $17.63 an hour or $3,056 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.63
- Average (mean)
- $37,600
- Jobs
- 104,880
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,860 | $13.39 | |
| 25th | $31,960 | $15.37 | |
| Median | $36,670 | $17.63 | |
| 75th | $42,830 | $20.59 | |
| 90th | $47,840 | $23.00 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Nevada | $45,750 |
| Alaska | $43,850 |
| Colorado | $43,840 |
| Maine | $43,520 |
| Washington | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $40,850 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 |
| Oregon | $39,780 |
| Hawaii | $39,230 |
| South Dakota | $39,000 |
| Minnesota | $38,930 |
| Rhode Island | $38,670 |
| New York | $38,480 |
| Indiana | $38,440 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 |
| California | $37,940 |
| Connecticut | $37,780 |
| Delaware | $37,690 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 |
| Michigan | $37,490 |
| Idaho | $37,160 |
| Nebraska | $37,060 |
| Montana | $36,740 |
| Wyoming | $36,510 |
| Illinois | $36,220 |
| New Jersey | $36,130 |
| Iowa | $35,870 |
| Maryland | $35,860 |
| Virginia | $35,790 |
| Ohio | $35,760 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,640 |
| Arkansas | $35,630 |
| Missouri | $35,610 |
| Utah | $35,550 |
| Kansas | $35,360 |
| North Carolina | $35,160 |
| New Mexico | $34,840 |
| Georgia | $34,790 |
| Tennessee | $34,220 |
| Oklahoma | $33,340 |
| Florida | $33,270 |
| Texas | $31,000 |
| Alabama | $30,830 |
| Louisiana | $29,600 |
| Kentucky | $29,460 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Bend, OR | $50,830 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $50,000 |
| Appleton, WI | $48,460 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $48,190 |
| Bremerton, WA | $47,220 |
| San Jose, CA | $47,220 |
| Hickory, NC | $46,540 |
| Bangor, ME | $46,060 |
| Denver, CO | $45,210 |
| Portland, ME | $45,160 |
| San Francisco, CA | $44,880 |
| Columbia, SC | $44,810 |
| Lewiston, ME | $44,670 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $44,350 |
| Seattle, WA | $44,350 |
In other countries
Sewing Machine Operator belongs to the international group "Sewing machine operators".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$34,890
- Presser$35,060
- Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer$37,800
- Shoe Machine Operator and Tender$35,650
- Sewer$36,480
- Tailor$41,640
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender$38,180
- Textile Cutting Machine Setter$38,760
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter$39,530
- Textile Winding$38,670
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $17.63 ($36,670 a year).
How much does a sewing machine operator make a month?
About $3,056 a month before tax, based on a median of $36,670 a year.
How much does a sewing machine operator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,860 or less a year ($13.39 an hour); the top 10% make $47,840 or more.
Which state pays sewing machine operators the most?
Nevada, with a median of $45,750 a year, followed by Alaska ($43,850) and Colorado ($43,840).
Which city pays sewing machine operators the most?
Bend, OR, with a median of $50,830 a year.
How many sewing machine operators are there in the United States?
About 104,880 people work as sewing machine operators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.