Sewing Machine Operator salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $34,940 a year ($16.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,570 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 1% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,160. There are 1.2 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,570 | $13.26 |
| 25th percentile | $30,280 | $14.56 |
| Median | $34,940 | $16.80 |
| 75th percentile | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Average (mean) | $35,780 | $17.20 |
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 | $2,911.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,455.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,343.85 |
| Weekly | $671.92 |
| Hourly | $16.80 |
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 |
| Columbia, SC | $44,810 | 390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,070 | 400 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | 560 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,110 | 380 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,210 | 320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,850 | 320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $32,470 | 1,460 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,120 | 160 |
| 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,150 | $14.98 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $40,310 | $19.38 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $44,910 | $21.59 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,730 | $14.29 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,080 | $35.62 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,620 | $20.49 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,070 | $26.96 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $34,940 a year, or $16.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $46,570 a year. The top 25% earn $39,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,570 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $30,280 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 1,640 sewing machine operators are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.