Sewing Machine Operator salary in Columbia, SC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $44,810 a year ($21.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $22,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,820 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 17% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $38,250. There are 0.99 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,810, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,060 | $10.61 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Median | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| 75th percentile | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,820 | $21.55 |
| Average (mean) | $38,810 | $18.66 |
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 | $3,734.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,867.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,723.46 |
| Weekly | $861.73 |
| Hourly | $21.54 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,070 | 400 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | 560 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,110 | 380 |
| 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 Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,830 | $14.34 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $36,690 | $17.64 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,230 | $20.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $35,660 | $17.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $43,790 | $21.05 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $55,070 | $26.48 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Columbia, SC metro area is $44,810 a year, or $21.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $22,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $44,820 a year. The top 25% earn $44,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $22,060 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $34,320 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Columbia, SC?
About 390 sewing machine operators are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.