Sewing Machine Operator salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Sewing Machine Operators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $42,970 a year ($20.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,300 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the Massachusetts statewide median of $42,910. There are 0.32 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $44,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,770 | $17.20 |
| 25th percentile | $39,720 | $19.10 |
| Median | $42,970 | $20.66 |
| 75th percentile | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,300 | $26.59 |
| Average (mean) | $44,400 | $21.35 |
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 | $3,580.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,790.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,652.69 |
| Weekly | $826.35 |
| Hourly | $20.66 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $39,350 | 40 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $39,070 | 40 |
| Springfield, MA | $38,440 | 60 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $38,160 | 820 |
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 Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $46,550 | $22.38 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $50,470 | $24.27 |
| Upholsterer | $48,380 | $23.26 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,860 | $23.01 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $48,060 | $23.10 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $82,660 | $39.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $58,210 | $27.99 |
| Machinist | $72,060 | $34.65 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $42,970 a year, or $20.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $55,300 a year. The top 25% earn $47,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,770 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $39,720 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 850 sewing machine operators are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.