Sewing Machine Operator salary in California
Sewing Machine Operators in California earn a median of $37,940 a year ($18.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 13,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,040 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $36,670. California ranks 19th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.73 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,950 | $16.80 |
| 25th percentile | $36,380 | $17.49 |
| Median | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| 75th percentile | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Average (mean) | $41,060 | $19.74 |
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 | $3,161.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,580.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,459.23 |
| Weekly | $729.62 |
| Hourly | $18.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | 220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,880 | 740 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,350 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,500 | 120 |
| Napa, CA | $42,550 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,080 | 190 |
| Merced, CA | $40,630 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,800 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,570 | 730 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,420 | 80 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39,070 | 820 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,610 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,270 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,100 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,130 | 9,310 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,740 | 50 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,790 | $18.17 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Upholsterer | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $43,770 | $21.05 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $45,290 | $21.77 |
| Sewers, Hand | $42,420 | $20.40 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,730 | $22.95 |
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 California?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in California is $37,940 a year, or $18.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in California?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in California earn at least $49,040 a year. The top 25% earn $44,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,950 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,380 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in California?
About 13,240 sewing machine operators are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.