How much does a sewing machine operator make?
The median sewing machine operator in the United States earns $36,670 per year, about $17.63 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all sewing machine operators earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-6031.
Sewing machine operator salary range
Pay for sewing machine operators spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,860 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $47,840. The average (mean) wage of $37,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,860 | $13.39 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $31,960 | $15.37 | |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | $17.63 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $42,830 | $20.59 | |
| 90th percentile | $47,840 | $23.00 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for sewing machine operators (SOC 51-6031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Sewing machine operator salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Sewing machine operators earn the most in Nevada at $45,750 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $29,320. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 | 910 |
| Alaska | $43,850 | 40 |
| Colorado | $43,840 | 970 |
| Maine | $43,520 | 700 |
| Washington | $43,360 | 1,600 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 | 1,540 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 | 190 |
| Vermont | $40,850 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 | 1,420 |
| Oregon | $39,780 | 1,250 |
| Hawaii | $39,230 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $39,000 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $38,930 | 1,890 |
| Rhode Island | $38,670 | 270 |
| New York | $38,480 | 6,130 |
| Indiana | $38,440 | 3,400 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 | 2,460 |
| California | $37,940 | 13,240 |
| Connecticut | $37,780 | 480 |
| Delaware | $37,690 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 | 2,270 |
| Michigan | $37,490 | 3,210 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | 410 |
| Nebraska | $37,060 | 300 |
| Montana | $36,740 | 190 |
| Wyoming | $36,510 | 110 |
| Illinois | $36,220 | 4,060 |
| New Jersey | $36,130 | 2,750 |
| Iowa | $35,870 | 590 |
| Maryland | $35,860 | 1,390 |
| Virginia | $35,790 | 2,010 |
| Ohio | $35,760 | 4,100 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,640 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $35,630 | 860 |
| Missouri | $35,610 | 2,320 |
| Utah | $35,550 | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $35,360 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $35,160 | 8,290 |
| New Mexico | $34,840 | 220 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | 3,420 |
| Tennessee | $34,220 | 3,300 |
| Oklahoma | $33,340 | 580 |
| Florida | $33,270 | 6,790 |
| Texas | $31,000 | 6,950 |
| Alabama | $30,830 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $29,600 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $29,460 | 2,750 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 | 180 |
State median wages for sewing machine operators (SOC 51-6031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for sewing machine operators
The BLS projects employment of sewing machine operators to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 15.1%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 117,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 99,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 9,800 openings a year for sewing machine operators. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a sewing machine operator
The typical entry-level education for sewing machine operators is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a sewing machine operator earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Nevada, $45,750) and the lowest (West Virginia, $29,320) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 104,880 people work as sewing machine operators in the United States. At $36,670 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Sewing machine operator salary FAQ
How much does a sewing machine operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a sewing machine operator is $17.63. The middle half of sewing machine operators earn between $15.37 and $20.59 per hour.
What is the highest sewing machine operator salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of sewing machine operators earn more than $47,840 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a sewing machine operator make a year?
The median annual salary for a sewing machine operator is $36,670. The average (mean) wage of $37,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a sewing machine operator a well paid job?
At $36,670 a year, a sewing machine operator earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 104,880 people work as sewing machine operators in the United States.
Which state pays sewing machine operators the most?
Nevada has the highest median salary for sewing machine operators at $45,750 a year. Alaska ($43,850) and Colorado ($43,840) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a sewing machine operator a good career?
Employment of sewing machine operators is projected to shrink 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 9,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a sewing machine operator?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for sewing machine operators as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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