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Seamstress (sewing machine operator): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$36,670median pay per year, or $17.63 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $27,860lowest 10% earn less
  2. $31,96025th percentile
  3. $36,670median
  4. $42,83075th percentile
  5. $47,840top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Sewing machine operators, often called seamstresses, had a median pay of $36,670 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects the number of jobs to fall 15.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-15.1%[2]
Openings per year
9,800[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do seamstresses make?

The median wage for sewing machine operators was $36,670 a year, or $17.63 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $37,600 a year, or $18.08 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $27,860 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $47,840[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $27,860 $13.39
25th percentile[3][9] $31,960 $15.37
Median[1] $36,670 $17.63
75th percentile[3][9] $42,830 $20.59
90th percentile[3][9] $47,840 $23.00

These figures cover full-time and part-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses outside production or the cost of benefits[10]. About 104,880 people held these jobs in May 2025[11]. Separately, 11.3% of sewing machine operators were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

Nevada had the highest state median at $45,750, followed by Alaska at $43,850 and Colorado at $43,840[13]. Alaska had only 40 jobs, so that figure covers a very small group[13]. The states with the most jobs were California (13,240), North Carolina (8,290) and Texas (6,950)[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Appleton, WI had the highest median at $48,460, followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV at $48,190[15]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs, 9,310, with a median of $37,130[16].

Show median pay in 50 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[13]$45,750910
Alaska$43,85040
Colorado$43,840970
Maine$43,520700
Washington$43,3601,600
Massachusetts$42,9101,540
New Hampshire$41,740190
Vermont$40,850220
Wisconsin$40,3702,370
Arizona$40,2101,420
Oregon$39,7801,250
Hawaii$39,230280
South Dakota$39,000300
Minnesota$38,9301,890
Rhode Island$38,670270
New York$38,4806,130
Indiana$38,4403,400
South Carolina$38,2502,460
California$37,94013,240
Connecticut$37,780480
Delaware$37,69060
Mississippi$37,6002,270
Michigan$37,4903,210
Idaho$37,160410
Nebraska$37,060300
Montana$36,740190
Wyoming$36,510110
Illinois$36,2204,060
New Jersey$36,1302,750
Iowa$35,870590
Maryland$35,8601,390
Virginia$35,7902,010
Ohio$35,7604,100
North Dakota$35,700110
Pennsylvania$35,6403,390
Arkansas$35,630860
Missouri$35,6102,320
Utah$35,5501,020
Kansas$35,360650
North Carolina$35,1608,290
New Mexico$34,840220
Georgia$34,7903,420
Tennessee$34,2203,300
Oklahoma$33,340580
Florida$33,2706,790
Texas$31,0006,950
Alabama$30,8302,300
Louisiana$29,600610
Kentucky$29,4602,750
West Virginia$29,320180

How to become a seamstress

BLS lists the typical path like this:

In an ONET survey of 38 workers, 53% said less than a high school diploma is required and 41% said a high school diploma or equivalent[17]. ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[18].

What sewing machine operators do

These workers run or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce or decorate garments and other products[19]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include sewer, seamer and sample maker[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 117,200 to 99,500 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[22].

About 9,800 openings a year are still projected[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. Each year, 5.3% of workers leave the labor force and 5.3% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The job needs no formal credential and no related experience, with short-term training on the job[6]. Pay was below the all-occupations median[1][4]. The job count is projected to fall steeply, though openings continue to appear each year[2][5]. People who like detailed hands-on work with fabric and machines may find the tasks familiar[20].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a seamstress make an hour?
The median for sewing machine operators was $17.63 an hour in May 2025[1]. The middle half earned between $15.37 and $20.59[9].
What education do you need to be a seamstress?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical entry education[6].
How long does it take to become a sewing machine operator?
BLS lists short-term on-the-job training and no related experience[6].
Is sewing machine operating in demand?
BLS projects employment to decline 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, but about 9,800 openings a year are expected[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for sewing machine operators?
Nevada, with a median of $45,750[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sewing Machine Operators in the US was $36,670 per year and $17.63 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sewing Machine Operators is projected to decline 15.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 117,200 to 99,500 jobs (a change of -17,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Sewing Machine Operators: 10th percentile $27,860, 25th percentile $31,960, 75th percentile $42,830, 90th percentile $47,840. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 9,800 openings for Sewing Machine Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Sewing Machine Operators: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sewing Machine Operators was $37,600 per year and $18.08 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sewing Machine Operators: 10th percentile $13.39, 25th percentile $15.37, 75th percentile $20.59, 90th percentile $23.00. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 104,880 people were employed as Sewing Machine Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 11.3% of Sewing Machine Operators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Sewing Machine Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sewing Machine Operators jobs: California 13,240; North Carolina 8,290; Texas 6,950; Florida 6,790; New York 6,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sewing Machine Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Appleton, WI $48,460; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $48,190; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $47,220; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,540; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $45,210; Portland-South Portland, ME $45,160; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,880; Columbia, SC $44,810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sewing Machine Operators jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 9,310 (median $37,130); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 6,700 (median $37,780); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,680 (median $30,620); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,450 (median $36,220); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,420 (median $35,260); Mayaguez, PR 2,370 (median $21,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 51-6031.00 survey of workers (38 respondents), education level they say is required: Less than a High School Diploma 53%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 41% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 51-6031.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of Sewing Machine Operators. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for Sewing Machine Operators. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 51-6031.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Line Closer, Machine Operator, Prototype Sewer, Sample Maker, Seamer, Seamstress, Sew On Operator, Sewer. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sewing Machine Operators: 5.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.