Sewing Machine Operator salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A sewing machine operator earns a median of $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $37,600. About 104,880 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $36,670
- Gross pay
- $1,410.38
- Federal income tax
- −$85.40
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$87.44
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.45
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,217.09
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $36,670
- Federal
- $2,220
- FICA
- $2,805
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $31,644
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Sewing Machine Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 | $44,590 | 910 |
| Alaska | $43,850 | $46,300 | 40 |
| Colorado | $43,840 | $43,690 | 970 |
| Maine | $43,520 | $42,450 | 700 |
| Washington | $43,360 | $43,720 | 1,600 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 | $42,850 | 1,540 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 | $42,960 | 190 |
| Vermont | $40,850 | $40,930 | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 | $41,430 | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 | $41,270 | 1,420 |
| Oregon | $39,780 | $42,260 | 1,250 |
| Hawaii | $39,230 | $42,860 | 280 |
| South Dakota | $39,000 | $38,630 | 300 |
| Minnesota | $38,930 | $41,490 | 1,890 |
| Rhode Island | $38,670 | $40,840 | 270 |
| New York | $38,480 | $41,930 | 6,130 |
| Indiana | $38,440 | $39,900 | 3,400 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 | $37,820 | 2,460 |
| California | $37,940 | $41,060 | 13,240 |
| Connecticut | $37,780 | $40,140 | 480 |
| Delaware | $37,690 | $39,170 | 60 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 | $36,780 | 2,270 |
| Michigan | $37,490 | $37,700 | 3,210 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | $38,110 | 410 |
| Nebraska | $37,060 | $37,440 | 300 |
| Montana | $36,740 | $36,970 | 190 |
| Wyoming | $36,510 | $36,440 | 110 |
| Illinois | $36,220 | $38,600 | 4,060 |
| New Jersey | $36,130 | $37,760 | 2,750 |
| Iowa | $35,870 | $36,570 | 590 |
| Maryland | $35,860 | $39,090 | 1,390 |
| Virginia | $35,790 | $36,550 | 2,010 |
| Ohio | $35,760 | $36,390 | 4,100 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 | $38,150 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,640 | $36,180 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $35,630 | $35,640 | 860 |
| Missouri | $35,610 | $35,300 | 2,320 |
| Utah | $35,550 | $37,150 | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $35,360 | $35,380 | 650 |
| North Carolina | $35,160 | $36,250 | 8,290 |
| New Mexico | $34,840 | $34,750 | 220 |
| Georgia | $34,790 | $34,510 | 3,420 |
| Tennessee | $34,220 | $33,760 | 3,300 |
| Oklahoma | $33,340 | $33,220 | 580 |
| Florida | $33,270 | $34,750 | 6,790 |
| Texas | $31,000 | $32,430 | 6,950 |
| Alabama | $30,830 | $31,730 | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $29,600 | $29,830 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $29,460 | $30,690 | 2,750 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 | $31,260 | 180 |
Similar jobs
- Sewer: $36,480
- Baker: $37,160
- Textile: $37,280
- Shoe Machine Operator and Tender: $35,650
- Shoe and Leather Worker and Repairer: $37,800
- Cutter and Trimmer: $38,020
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender: $38,180
- Presser: $35,060
BLS occupation: Sewing Machine Operators. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 51-6031). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $17.63; the average is $18.08.
Which state pays sewing machine operators the most?
Nevada ($45,750 median), followed by Alaska and Colorado.
What is the salary range for a sewing machine operator?
The bottom 10% earn under $27,860 and the top 10% earn over $47,840 a year.
How much is $36,670 after taxes?
About $31,644 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $30,718 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.