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.
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Base salary
$39,000
National baseline
Target bonus
$3,000
7.4% of base
Total target cash
$42,000
Base plus target bonus
Bonus percentiles:25th$2,00050th$3,00075th$5,000
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
About this role
Sewing Machine Operator is a professional role within the function in the Production job family.
Typical entry preparation: Less than a High School Diploma and up to 1 year of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Typical education: Less than a High School Diploma
Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
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.
Top skills:MonitoringTime ManagementQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience level
Entry level$29,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$33,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$38,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$44,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$49,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
-10.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
13,000
projected openings per year
Declining
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sewing Machine Operator salary by industry
Apparel Manufacturing
25,280 workers
$37,000
Textile Product Mills
23,640 workers
$39,000
Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
20,940 workers
$37,500
Other Textile Product Mills
17,920 workers
$39,000
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
9,230 workers
$43,000
Textile Furnishings Mills
5,730 workers
$38,500
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only)
5,450 workers
$44,000
Printing and Related Support Activities
5,440 workers
$40,000
Printing and Related Support Activities
5,440 workers
$40,000
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
4,950 workers
$39,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Non-exempt · Service, trades, or production work
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay under FLSA rules. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
How this role compares
Sewing Machine Operator pays 30% below the average across 112 roles in the Production job family (family average $56,000).
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