Sewing Machine Operator salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $38,110 a year ($18.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 380 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,440 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the South Carolina statewide median of $38,250. There are 0.96 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,190 | $14.03 |
| 25th percentile | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Median | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| 75th percentile | $42,370 | $20.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Average (mean) | $38,800 | $18.65 |
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 | $3,175.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,587.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,465.77 |
| Weekly | $732.88 |
| Hourly | $18.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | $44,810 | 390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,070 | 400 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | 560 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 1,640 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,120 | 160 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,210 | $17.89 |
| Upholsterer | $44,980 | $21.63 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $46,230 | $22.23 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,470 | $24.26 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Baker | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Machinist | $59,280 | $28.50 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $38,110 a year, or $18.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $50,440 a year. The top 25% earn $42,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,190 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,900 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 380 sewing machine operators are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.