Sewing Machine Operator salary in Asheville, NC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Asheville, NC metro area earn a median of $37,210 a year ($17.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,580 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 6% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,160. There are 1.7 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,250, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Asheville, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,820 | $13.86 |
| 25th percentile | $32,390 | $15.57 |
| Median | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 75th percentile | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,580 | $21.44 |
| Average (mean) | $36,250 | $17.43 |
Half of sewing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,100.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,550.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,431.15 |
| Weekly | $715.58 |
| Hourly | $17.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,540 | 1,860 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 1,640 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,850 | 320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $32,470 | 1,460 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $30,960 | 340 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,150 | 450 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,640 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,570 | 180 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,280 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $29,230 | 100 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $28,560 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $28,510 | 110 |
Highest-paying states for sewing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 |
| Alaska | $43,850 |
| Colorado | $43,840 |
| Maine | $43,520 |
| Washington | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $40,850 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Asheville, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,120 | $16.89 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,230 | $17.42 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| Machinist | $53,110 | $25.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,470 | $33.88 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,170 | $19.31 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| Baker | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,060 | $20.22 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,540 | $25.26 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,940 | $22.09 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Asheville, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Asheville, NC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Asheville, NC metro area is $37,210 a year, or $17.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Asheville, NC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Asheville, NC metro area earn at least $44,580 a year. The top 25% earn $37,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Asheville, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,820 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $32,390 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Asheville, NC?
About 320 sewing machine operators are employed in the Asheville, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.