Sewing Machine Operators
SOC 51-6031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Sewing Machine Operators is $34,440, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $35,000, and an estimated 116,130 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +22% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +3.6% after inflation. BLS projects employment will shrink 10.8% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Sewing Machine Operators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $34,440 | $34,440 | 116,130 |
| 2022 | $31,740 | $33,047 | 116,750 |
| 2021 | $29,690 | $33,386 | 116,220 |
| 2020 | $28,230 | $33,236 | 116,520 |
Nominal change
+22%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+3.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-10.8%
Declining
Employment 2024
124,000
Projected 2034
110,700
Annual Openings
13,000
Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Sewing Machine Operators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $34,440. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $47,810 | +38.8% | 60 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $47,540 | +38% | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $46,520 | +35.1% | 30 |
| Northwest Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $43,740 | +27% | 290 |
| Alaska | $41,600 | +20.8% | 50 |
| Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $39,170 | +13.7% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $39,000 | +13.2% | 410 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $38,950 | +13.1% | 80 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,840 | +12.8% | 190 |
| Washington | $38,800 | +12.7% | 1,850 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$25,360
25th Pct
$29,690
Median
$34,440
75th Pct
$38,340
90th Pct
$45,360
Related Occupations in Production
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.