51 Series · SOC 51-6051
Sewers, Hand Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $36,480
- Median / year
- $47,570
- Top 10% earn
- -7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 2,190
- US workers
Sewers, Hand earn a median of $36,480 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $36,480, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,680 (10th percentile) to $47,570 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 2,190 US workers. Colorado pays the most ($47,600), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Sewers, Hand earn a median of $36,480, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 5% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #102 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 7% by 2033.
- $36,480
- Median annual wage
- Top 95%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #102 of 105
- in Production
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Colorado at $47,600. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Sewers, Hand (SOC 51-6051) pays a national median of $36,480 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $27,680 at the 10th percentile to $47,570 at the 90th, with a mean of $37,210 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 2,190 Americans work in this occupation across 18 reporting states and 7 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Colorado pays the highest state median at $47,600, which is +30% above the national figure. The top metro is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $48,580 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$36,480
per year
Median Hourly
$17.54/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$37,210
average
Employment
2,190
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Sewers, Hand pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$36,480 Bottom 5% higher than 5% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Sewers, Hand; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Sewers, Hand sits on the slower-growing side at -7% growth and $36,480 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-7%
Declining
Annual Openings
700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Sewers, Hand roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Fit garments on clients, altering as needed.
- ▸ Select thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles.
- ▸ Measure and align parts, fasteners, or trimmings, following seams, edges, or markings on parts.
- ▸ Trim excess threads or edges of parts, using scissors or knives.
- ▸ Smooth seams with heated irons, flat bones, or rubbing sticks.
- ▸ Sew, join, reinforce, or finish parts of articles, such as garments, books, mattresses, toys, and wigs, using needles and thread or other materials.
- ▸ Use different sewing techniques such as felling, tacking, basting, embroidery, and fagoting.
- ▸ Draw and cut patterns according to specifications.
- ▸ Fold, twist, stretch, or drape material, and secure articles in preparation for sewing.
- ▸ Sew buttonholes, or add lace or other trimming.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$27,680
25th Percentile
$33,330
Median
$36,480
75th Percentile
$40,720
90th Percentile
$47,570
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 18 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $47,600 | +30% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $45,170 | +24% above national |
| 3 | California | $42,420 | +16% above national |
| 4 | Iowa | $42,290 | +16% above national |
| 5 | South Carolina | $39,690 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Nevada | $39,440 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $38,680 | +6% above national |
| 8 | Florida | $38,480 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Georgia | $38,210 | +5% above national |
| 10 | New York | $37,380 | +2% above national |
| 11 | North Carolina | $36,550 | same as national |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,480 | same as national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $36,400 | same as national |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $35,560 | 3% below national |
| 15 | Indiana | $34,410 | 6% below national |
| 16 | Texas | $29,320 | 20% below national |
| 17 | Louisiana | $27,040 | 26% below national |
| 18 | Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 7 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $48,580 | +33% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,540 | +33% above national |
| 3 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,140 | +26% above national |
| 4 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,390 | +2% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,380 | +2% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,480 | same as national |
| 7 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,830 | 7% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Sewers, Hand make? ▼
What state pays Sewers, Hand the most? ▼
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How does Sewers, Hand pay vary by state? ▼
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What to do with this data
How to use Sewers, Hand pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $40,720/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Colorado leads at $47,600/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.