What is the typical salary range for a Sewing Machine Operator?

Pay typically falls between $33,000 and $44,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Sewing Machine Operator Salary: $39,000 Average

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Average base salary

$39,000 / year

≈ $3,250 per month · $18.75 per hour

Location

25th percentile
$33,000Average
$39,00075th percentile
$44,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

About this role

Sewing Machine Operator is a professional role in the Production job family, focused on Sewing Machine Operator work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Sewing Machine Operator pays 29% below the average across 105 roles in the Production job family (family average $55,000).

Similar-paying roles in Production

Sewers, Hand$38,500

Baker$40,000

Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders$37,500

Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers$40,500

Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41,000

Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41,500

Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$36,000

Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$42,000

Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$42,500

Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,500

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Sewing Machine Operator make?

The average base salary for a Sewing Machine Operator in the United States is $39,000 per year, or about $18.75 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $33,000 and $44,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Production roles?

The Production job family averages $55,000 across 105 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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