51 Series · SOC 51-6031
Sewing Machine Operators Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $36,670
- Median / year
- $47,840
- Top 10% earn
- -10.8%
- Growth '23–'33
- 104,880
- US workers
Sewing Machine Operators earn a median of $36,670 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $36,670, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,860 (10th percentile) to $47,840 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 104,880 US workers. Nevada pays the most ($45,750), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Sewing Machine Operators earn a median of $36,670, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 6% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #101 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 10.8% by 2033.
- $36,670
- Median annual wage
- Top 94%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #101 of 105
- in Production
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Nevada at $45,750. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Sewing Machine Operators (SOC 51-6031) pays a national median of $36,670 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $27,860 at the 10th percentile to $47,840 at the 90th, with a mean of $37,600 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 104,880 Americans work in this occupation across 51 reporting states and 327 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -10.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 13,000 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 short-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. Nevada pays the highest state median at $45,750, which is +25% above the national figure. The top metro is Bend, OR at $50,830 - 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.
BLS OEWS May 2025 104,880 jobs Median $36,670/yr
Median Salary
$36,670
per year
Median Hourly
$17.63/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$37,600
average
Employment
104,880
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Sewing Machine Operators pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$36,670 Bottom 6% higher than 6% 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 Sewing Machine Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Sewing Machine Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -10.8% growth and $36,670 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-10.8%
Declining
Annual Openings
13,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
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 Sewing Machine Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Monitoring 3.1
Active Listening 2.8
Critical Thinking 2.8
Complex Problem Solving 2.8
Operations Monitoring 2.8
Quality Control Analysis 2.8
Judgment and Decision Making 2.8
Time Management 2.8
Reading Comprehension 2.6
Operation and Control 2.6
Knowledge Areas
English Language 2.7
Production and Processing 2.5
Mathematics 2.3
Education and Training 2.2
Customer and Personal Service 2.2
Public Safety and Security 2.1
Mechanical 2.1
Administration and Management 2.0
Transportation 1.7
Computers and Electronics 1.6
Key Tasks
- ▸ Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
- ▸ Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.
- ▸ Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
- ▸ Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
- ▸ Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
- ▸ Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
- ▸ Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
- ▸ Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
- ▸ Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
- ▸ Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
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
$27,860
25th Percentile
$31,960
Median
$36,670
75th Percentile
$42,830
90th Percentile
$47,840
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 51 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $45,750 | +25% above national |
| 2 | Alaska | $43,850 | +20% above national |
| 3 | Colorado | $43,840 | +20% above national |
| 4 | Maine | $43,520 | +19% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $43,360 | +18% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $42,910 | +17% above national |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,740 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Vermont | $40,850 | +11% above national |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $40,370 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Arizona | $40,210 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Oregon | $39,780 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Hawaii | $39,230 | +7% above national |
| 13 | South Dakota | $39,000 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Minnesota | $38,930 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $38,670 | +5% above national |
| 16 | New York | $38,480 | +5% above national |
| 17 | Indiana | $38,440 | +5% above national |
| 18 | South Carolina | $38,250 | +4% above national |
| 19 | California | $37,940 | +3% above national |
| 20 | Connecticut | $37,780 | +3% above national |
| 21 | Delaware | $37,690 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Mississippi | $37,600 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Michigan | $37,490 | +2% above national |
| 24 | Idaho | $37,160 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Nebraska | $37,060 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Montana | $36,740 | same as national |
| 27 | Wyoming | $36,510 | same as national |
| 28 | Illinois | $36,220 | 1% below national |
| 29 | New Jersey | $36,130 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Iowa | $35,870 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Maryland | $35,860 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Virginia | $35,790 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $35,760 | 2% below national |
| 34 | North Dakota | $35,700 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $35,640 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Arkansas | $35,630 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Missouri | $35,610 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Utah | $35,550 | 3% below national |
| 39 | Kansas | $35,360 | 4% below national |
| 40 | North Carolina | $35,160 | 4% below national |
| 41 | New Mexico | $34,840 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Georgia | $34,790 | 5% below national |
| 43 | Tennessee | $34,220 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $33,340 | 9% below national |
| 45 | Florida | $33,270 | 9% below national |
| 46 | Texas | $31,000 | 15% below national |
| 47 | Alabama | $30,830 | 16% below national |
| 48 | Louisiana | $29,600 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Kentucky | $29,460 | 20% below national |
| 50 | West Virginia | $29,320 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Puerto Rico | $21,840 | 40% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 327 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bend, OR | $50,830 | +39% above national |
| 2 | Glens Falls, NY | $50,000 | +36% above national |
| 3 | Appleton, WI | $48,460 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $48,200 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $48,190 | +31% above national |
| 6 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $47,220 | +29% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | +29% above national |
| 8 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,540 | +27% above national |
| 9 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46,450 | +27% above national |
| 10 | Bangor, ME | $46,060 | +26% above national |
| 11 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $45,210 | +23% above national |
| 12 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,160 | +23% above national |
| 13 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,880 | +22% above national |
| 14 | Columbia, SC | $44,810 | +22% above national |
| 15 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $44,750 | +22% above national |
| 16 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $44,670 | +22% above national |
| 17 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $44,570 | +22% above national |
| 18 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,350 | +21% above national |
| 19 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,350 | +21% above national |
| 20 | Evansville, IN | $43,800 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Boulder, CO | $43,740 | +19% above national |
| 22 | Reno, NV | $43,730 | +19% above national |
| 23 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $43,650 | +19% above national |
| 24 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,500 | +19% above national |
| 25 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $43,370 | +18% above national |
| 26 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $42,970 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Napa, CA | $42,550 | +16% above national |
| 28 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $42,480 | +16% above national |
| 29 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $42,300 | +15% above national |
| 30 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,080 | +15% above national |
| 31 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $42,040 | +15% above national |
| 32 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $41,980 | +14% above national |
| 33 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $41,740 | +14% above national |
| 34 | Tucson, AZ | $41,660 | +14% above national |
| 35 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $41,440 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,410 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Binghamton, NY | $41,330 | +13% above national |
| 38 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $41,320 | +13% above national |
| 39 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $41,180 | +12% above national |
| 40 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $40,910 | +12% above national |
| 41 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $40,650 | +11% above national |
| 42 | Merced, CA | $40,630 | +11% above national |
| 43 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $40,550 | +11% above national |
| 44 | Grand Junction, CO | $40,450 | +10% above national |
| 45 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $40,130 | +9% above national |
| 46 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $40,130 | +9% above national |
| 47 | Madison, WI | $40,040 | +9% above national |
| 48 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $40,000 | +9% above national |
| 49 | Fond du Lac, WI | $39,810 | +9% above national |
| 50 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,800 | +9% above national |
| 51 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,770 | +8% above national |
| 52 | Bellingham, WA | $39,650 | +8% above national |
| 53 | Bozeman, MT | $39,610 | +8% above national |
| 54 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,570 | +8% above national |
| 55 | York-Hanover, PA | $39,430 | +8% above national |
| 56 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,420 | +7% above national |
| 57 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $39,420 | +7% above national |
| 58 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $39,390 | +7% above national |
| 59 | Kingston, NY | $39,370 | +7% above national |
| 60 | Worcester, MA | $39,350 | +7% above national |
| 61 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $39,130 | +7% above national |
| 62 | Dubuque, IA | $39,120 | +7% above national |
| 63 | Wausau, WI | $39,110 | +7% above national |
| 64 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,070 | +7% above national |
| 65 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $39,070 | +7% above national |
| 66 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39,070 | +7% above national |
| 67 | Greeley, CO | $39,040 | +6% above national |
| 68 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $39,020 | +6% above national |
| 69 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,000 | +6% above national |
| 70 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $38,850 | +6% above national |
| 71 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $38,780 | +6% above national |
| 72 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $38,760 | +6% above national |
| 73 | Medford, OR | $38,700 | +6% above national |
| 74 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $38,650 | +5% above national |
| 75 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $38,650 | +5% above national |
| 76 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,630 | +5% above national |
| 77 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,610 | +5% above national |
| 78 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $38,610 | +5% above national |
| 79 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,600 | +5% above national |
| 80 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | +5% above national |
| 81 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | +5% above national |
| 82 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $38,530 | +5% above national |
| 83 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,500 | +5% above national |
| 84 | Missoula, MT | $38,490 | +5% above national |
| 85 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,480 | +5% above national |
| 86 | Springfield, MA | $38,440 | +5% above national |
| 87 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $38,420 | +5% above national |
| 88 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $38,340 | +5% above national |
| 89 | Colorado Springs, CO | $38,270 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Fresno, CA | $38,270 | +4% above national |
| 91 | Salem, OR | $38,200 | +4% above national |
| 92 | Springfield, OH | $38,190 | +4% above national |
| 93 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $38,160 | +4% above national |
| 94 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $38,130 | +4% above national |
| 95 | Flint, MI | $38,130 | +4% above national |
| 96 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,110 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Modesto, CA | $38,100 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $37,990 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Traverse City, MI | $37,900 | +3% above national |
| 100 | Gainesville, GA | $37,890 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Syracuse, NY | $37,850 | +3% above national |
| 102 | Reading, PA | $37,820 | +3% above national |
| 103 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $37,790 | +3% above national |
| 104 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,780 | +3% above national |
| 105 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $37,740 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,620 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $37,550 | +2% above national |
| 108 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,500 | +2% above national |
| 109 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $37,490 | +2% above national |
| 110 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,480 | +2% above national |
| 111 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $37,470 | +2% above national |
| 112 | Jackson, TN | $37,380 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Omaha, NE-IA | $37,380 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Ann Arbor, MI | $37,350 | +2% above national |
| 115 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,270 | +2% above national |
| 116 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,240 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Asheville, NC | $37,210 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Lincoln, NE | $37,200 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $37,180 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,130 | +1% above national |
| 121 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $37,110 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Fort Wayne, IN | $37,090 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,060 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $37,020 | +1% above national |
| 125 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $37,020 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $37,010 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Erie, PA | $36,990 | +1% above national |
| 128 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,910 | +1% above national |
| 129 | Green Bay, WI | $36,820 | same as national |
| 130 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,820 | same as national |
| 131 | Boise City, ID | $36,800 | same as national |
| 132 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,800 | same as national |
| 133 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,800 | same as national |
| 134 | Duluth, MN-WI | $36,780 | same as national |
| 135 | Roanoke, VA | $36,750 | same as national |
| 136 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,740 | same as national |
| 137 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $36,730 | same as national |
| 138 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $36,720 | same as national |
| 139 | New Haven, CT | $36,700 | same as national |
| 140 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | same as national |
| 141 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $36,640 | same as national |
| 142 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $36,630 | same as national |
| 143 | Toledo, OH | $36,580 | same as national |
| 144 | Lebanon, PA | $36,530 | same as national |
| 145 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,430 | 1% below national |
| 146 | Cleveland, TN | $36,400 | 1% below national |
| 147 | Odessa, TX | $36,380 | 1% below national |
| 148 | Huntsville, AL | $36,340 | 1% below national |
| 149 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,300 | 1% below national |
| 150 | Springfield, MO | $36,300 | 1% below national |
| 151 | Longview, TX | $36,290 | 1% below national |
| 152 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,290 | 1% below national |
| 153 | Terre Haute, IN | $36,250 | 1% below national |
| 154 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,240 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Akron, OH | $36,230 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $36,230 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,220 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,220 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,170 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $36,150 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Savannah, GA | $36,100 | 2% below national |
| 162 | Ogden, UT | $36,040 | 2% below national |
| 163 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $36,010 | 2% below national |
| 164 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,950 | 2% below national |
| 165 | Rochester, NY | $35,930 | 2% below national |
| 166 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,890 | 2% below national |
| 167 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,860 | 2% below national |
| 168 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $35,820 | 2% below national |
| 169 | Cleveland, OH | $35,760 | 2% below national |
| 170 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,740 | 3% below national |
| 171 | Fargo, ND-MN | $35,730 | 3% below national |
| 172 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 3% below national |
| 173 | Ocala, FL | $35,690 | 3% below national |
| 174 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $35,670 | 3% below national |
| 175 | Santa Fe, NM | $35,660 | 3% below national |
| 176 | Lancaster, PA | $35,630 | 3% below national |
| 177 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $35,580 | 3% below national |
| 178 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $35,560 | 3% below national |
| 179 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $35,550 | 3% below national |
| 180 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $35,550 | 3% below national |
| 181 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,510 | 3% below national |
| 182 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $35,500 | 3% below national |
| 183 | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,440 | 3% below national |
| 184 | Columbus, OH | $35,420 | 3% below national |
| 185 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $35,380 | 4% below national |
| 186 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $35,360 | 4% below national |
| 187 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 4% below national |
| 188 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $35,360 | 4% below national |
| 189 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $35,350 | 4% below national |
| 190 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,320 | 4% below national |
| 191 | Richmond, VA | $35,310 | 4% below national |
| 192 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $35,260 | 4% below national |
| 193 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,180 | 4% below national |
| 194 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $35,180 | 4% below national |
| 195 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $35,120 | 4% below national |
| 196 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $35,120 | 4% below national |
| 197 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $35,110 | 4% below national |
| 198 | Jacksonville, FL | $35,010 | 5% below national |
| 199 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $34,980 | 5% below national |
| 200 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,960 | 5% below national |
| 201 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 5% below national |
| 202 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $34,930 | 5% below national |
| 203 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,850 | 5% below national |
| 204 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $34,840 | 5% below national |
| 205 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $34,820 | 5% below national |
| 206 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $34,790 | 5% below national |
| 207 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $34,710 | 5% below national |
| 208 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $34,700 | 5% below national |
| 209 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 5% below national |
| 210 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $34,600 | 6% below national |
| 211 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $34,570 | 6% below national |
| 212 | Tulsa, OK | $34,500 | 6% below national |
| 213 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $34,480 | 6% below national |
| 214 | Logan, UT-ID | $34,360 | 6% below national |
| 215 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $34,320 | 6% below national |
| 216 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $34,320 | 6% below national |
| 217 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $34,310 | 6% below national |
| 218 | St. George, UT | $34,300 | 6% below national |
| 219 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,260 | 7% below national |
| 220 | Dalton, GA | $34,180 | 7% below national |
| 221 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $34,170 | 7% below national |
| 222 | Mobile, AL | $34,110 | 7% below national |
| 223 | Rockford, IL | $34,060 | 7% below national |
| 224 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $34,010 | 7% below national |
| 225 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $34,010 | 7% below national |
| 226 | Idaho Falls, ID | $33,990 | 7% below national |
| 227 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,990 | 7% below national |
| 228 | Albuquerque, NM | $33,860 | 8% below national |
| 229 | Morristown, TN | $33,850 | 8% below national |
| 230 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $33,700 | 8% below national |
| 231 | Knoxville, TN | $33,680 | 8% below national |
| 232 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $33,650 | 8% below national |
| 233 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $33,530 | 9% below national |
| 234 | Columbus, GA-AL | $33,440 | 9% below national |
| 235 | Johnson City, TN | $33,420 | 9% below national |
| 236 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $33,400 | 9% below national |
| 237 | Montgomery, AL | $33,330 | 9% below national |
| 238 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $33,240 | 9% below national |
| 239 | Peoria, IL | $33,060 | 10% below national |
| 240 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $32,930 | 10% below national |
| 241 | Decatur, AL | $32,770 | 11% below national |
| 242 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $32,700 | 11% below national |
| 243 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $32,690 | 11% below national |
| 244 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $32,630 | 11% below national |
| 245 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $32,520 | 11% below national |
| 246 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $32,490 | 11% below national |
| 247 | Utica-Rome, NY | $32,480 | 11% below national |
| 248 | Gainesville, FL | $32,470 | 11% below national |
| 249 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $32,470 | 11% below national |
| 250 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $32,470 | 11% below national |
| 251 | Bowling Green, KY | $32,230 | 12% below national |
| 252 | Vineland, NJ | $32,220 | 12% below national |
| 253 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,120 | 12% below national |
| 254 | Baton Rouge, LA | $31,950 | 13% below national |
| 255 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $31,890 | 13% below national |
| 256 | Birmingham, AL | $31,840 | 13% below national |
| 257 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $31,710 | 14% below national |
| 258 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $31,680 | 14% below national |
| 259 | Amarillo, TX | $31,510 | 14% below national |
| 260 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $31,450 | 14% below national |
| 261 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $31,390 | 14% below national |
| 262 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $31,360 | 14% below national |
| 263 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $31,360 | 14% below national |
| 264 | Jackson, MS | $31,200 | 15% below national |
| 265 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $31,200 | 15% below national |
| 266 | Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 15% below national |
| 267 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $31,170 | 15% below national |
| 268 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $31,170 | 15% below national |
| 269 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $31,140 | 15% below national |
| 270 | Joplin, MO-KS | $31,040 | 15% below national |
| 271 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $31,000 | 15% below national |
| 272 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $30,960 | 16% below national |
| 273 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $30,880 | 16% below national |
| 274 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $30,620 | 16% below national |
| 275 | Wichita, KS | $30,590 | 17% below national |
| 276 | Saginaw, MI | $30,360 | 17% below national |
| 277 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $30,360 | 17% below national |
| 278 | Dothan, AL | $30,320 | 17% below national |
| 279 | Corpus Christi, TX | $30,300 | 17% below national |
| 280 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $30,190 | 18% below national |
| 281 | Johnstown, PA | $30,160 | 18% below national |
| 282 | Winston-Salem, NC | $30,150 | 18% below national |
| 283 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $30,130 | 18% below national |
| 284 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $30,070 | 18% below national |
| 285 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $30,050 | 18% below national |
| 286 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $29,960 | 18% below national |
| 287 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $29,920 | 18% below national |
| 288 | Lubbock, TX | $29,900 | 18% below national |
| 289 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,760 | 19% below national |
| 290 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,730 | 19% below national |
| 291 | Fayetteville, NC | $29,640 | 19% below national |
| 292 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $29,640 | 19% below national |
| 293 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $29,590 | 19% below national |
| 294 | Burlington, NC | $29,570 | 19% below national |
| 295 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $29,570 | 19% below national |
| 296 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $29,420 | 20% below national |
| 297 | Greenville, NC | $29,280 | 20% below national |
| 298 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,280 | 20% below national |
| 299 | Williamsport, PA | $29,260 | 20% below national |
| 300 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $29,250 | 20% below national |
| 301 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,230 | 20% below national |
| 302 | Rocky Mount, NC | $29,230 | 20% below national |
| 303 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,210 | 20% below national |
| 304 | Wichita Falls, TX | $29,110 | 21% below national |
| 305 | Tyler, TX | $29,030 | 21% below national |
| 306 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,970 | 21% below national |
| 307 | Lafayette, LA | $28,640 | 22% below national |
| 308 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $28,560 | 22% below national |
| 309 | Wilmington, NC | $28,510 | 22% below national |
| 310 | Charleston, WV | $28,430 | 22% below national |
| 311 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $28,340 | 23% below national |
| 312 | Waco, TX | $28,230 | 23% below national |
| 313 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $28,020 | 24% below national |
| 314 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $27,810 | 24% below national |
| 315 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $27,450 | 25% below national |
| 316 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $27,020 | 26% below national |
| 317 | San Angelo, TX | $27,010 | 26% below national |
| 318 | Elizabethtown, KY | $26,260 | 28% below national |
| 319 | Owensboro, KY | $25,980 | 29% below national |
| 320 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $24,030 | 34% below national |
| 321 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $23,020 | 37% below national |
| 322 | Arecibo, PR | $22,550 | 39% below national |
| 323 | El Paso, TX | $22,400 | 39% below national |
| 324 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,190 | 39% below national |
| 325 | Mayaguez, PR | $21,840 | 40% below national |
| 326 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $21,840 | 40% below national |
| 327 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $20,790 | 43% 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 Sewing Machine Operators make? ▼
The median annual salary for Sewing Machine Operators is $36,670 ($17.63/hour). The salary range spans from $27,860 at the 10th percentile to $47,840 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Sewing Machine Operators the most? ▼
Nevada pays the highest median salary for Sewing Machine Operators at $45,750/year, which is +25% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Sewing Machine Operators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Sewing Machine Operators is No formal educational credential. On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Sewing Machine Operators? ▼
Sewing Machine Operators has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Sewing Machine Operators a good career? ▼
Employment for Sewing Machine Operators is projected to decline 10.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 13,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Sewing Machine Operators pay vary by state? ▼
Sewing Machine Operators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Nevada at $45,750/year, while Alabama pays the least at $30,830/year. BLS data covers 51 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Sewing Machine Operators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Sewing Machine Operators is Bend, OR at $50,830/year. BLS reports wage data for 327 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Sewing Machine Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $42,830/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: Nevada leads at $45,750/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.