Occupation salary profile

Sewing Machine Operators

SOC 51-6031 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

National median · BLS
$36,670
▲ +1.86% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$37,600
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
104,880
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Sewing Machine Operators

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$27,860
25th$31,960
Median (50th)$36,670
75th$42,830
90th — top pay$47,840

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Sewing Machine Operators

BLS projects employment of sewing machine operators to decline 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 9,800 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
117,200 → 99,500
-17,700 jobs
Projected change
-15.1%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
9,800
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
11.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Sewing Machine Operators

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Active Listening2.8
  • Complex Problem Solving2.8
  • Critical Thinking2.8
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.8
  • Operations Monitoring2.8
  • Quality Control Analysis2.8
  • Time Management2.8
  • Operation and Control2.6
  • Reading Comprehension2.6
Top knowledge areas
  • English Language2.7
  • Production and Processing2.5
  • Mathematics2.3
  • Education and Training2.2
  • Customer and Personal Service2.2
  • Public Safety and Security2.1
  • Mechanical2.1
  • Administration and Management2.0
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordEmail softwareWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What sewing machine operators do

  • 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.
  • 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.
Also called
Sample MakerSeamstressSewerSewing Machine OperatorLine CloserMachine OperatorPrototype SewerSeamerSew On OperatorZipper Machine Operator
More job titles for this occupation (80)
AppliquerApron OperatorArmhole SewerAutomat WatcherAutomatic HemmerAutomatic SeamerAutomatic Serging Machine OperatorAutomatic Shirring Machine OperatorAutomatic Trimming SewerBack FacerBag MakerBag MenderBand MakerBanderBar Tacker Sewing MachineBasterBasting Machine OperatorBathing Suit MakerBead Sewing WorkerBelt Loop Machine OperatorBelt MakerBelt SewerBinderBinding StitcherBlind Stitch Machine OperatorBlindstitch HemmerBlindstitch Lapel PadderBlindstitch Lining FellerBlindstitch Machine OperatorBorder Machine OperatorBordererBouffant Curtain Machine TenderBow MakerBraiderBraiding Machine OperatorBrim StitcherBuckle SewerButton SewerButton Sewing Machine OperatorButtonhole and Button Sewing Machine OperatorButtonhole FacerButtonhole Machine OperatorButtonhole MakerButtonholerCanvas BasterCap MakerCap SewerCarpet SewerCarpet Sewing Machine OperatorCasing SewerChainstitch BinderChainstitch Elastic AttacherChainstitch Felled Seam OperatorChainstitch HemmerChainstitch Pants OutseamerChainstitch Seat JoinerChainstitch Sewing Machine OperatorChainstitch Tunnel Elastic OperatorChainstitch Zipper SetterChenille Machine OperatorCloth MenderCoat FellerCoat FinisherCoat JoinerCoat OperatorCollar BasterCollar FellerCollar MakerCollar RunnerCollar SetterCollar SewerCollar StitcherComplete Garment Lockstitch Sewing Machine OperatorComplete Garment Overlock Machine OperatorCone SewerCorset MakerCover SeamerCover Stitch Machine OperatorCovering Machine OperatorCoverstitch Binder

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.