Sewing Machine Operator salary in Birmingham, AL
Sewing Machine Operators in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median of $31,840 a year ($15.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,380 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 3% higher than the Alabama statewide median of $30,830. There are 0.51 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $33,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Birmingham, AL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,610 | $11.35 |
| 25th percentile | $28,000 | $13.46 |
| Median | $31,840 | $15.31 |
| 75th percentile | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,380 | $20.85 |
| Average (mean) | $33,560 | $16.14 |
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 | $2,653.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,326.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,224.62 |
| Weekly | $612.31 |
| Hourly | $15.31 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | $36,340 | 230 |
| Mobile, AL | $34,110 | 50 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $33,440 | 240 |
| Montgomery, AL | $33,330 | 60 |
| Decatur, AL | $32,770 | n/a |
| Anniston-Oxford, AL | $31,890 | 140 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $31,140 | 50 |
| Dothan, AL | $30,320 | 190 |
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 Alabama statewide figures.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $27,870 | $13.40 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $27,190 | $13.07 |
| Upholsterer | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,170 | $19.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,760 | $36.43 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,270 | $21.77 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,710 | $17.65 |
| Machinist | $50,780 | $24.41 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,290 | $19.37 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,530 | $19.49 |
| Printing Press Operator | $37,620 | $18.09 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Birmingham, AL
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 Birmingham, AL?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $31,840 a year, or $15.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Birmingham, AL?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn at least $43,380 a year. The top 25% earn $38,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Birmingham, AL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,610 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $28,000 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Birmingham, AL?
About 270 sewing machine operators are employed in the Birmingham, AL metro area, not counting the self-employed.