Sewing Machine Operator salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK
Sewing Machine Operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn a median of $27,810 a year ($13.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,400 for the top 10%. That is 24% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 22% lower than the Arkansas statewide median of $35,630. There are 0.73 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $31,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,500 | $13.22 |
| 25th percentile | $27,810 | $13.37 |
| Median | $27,810 | $13.37 |
| 75th percentile | $36,250 | $17.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Average (mean) | $31,310 | $15.05 |
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 | $2,317.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,158.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,069.62 |
| Weekly | $534.81 |
| Hourly | $13.37 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $37,060 | 240 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $34,820 | 200 |
| Tulsa, OK | $34,500 | 120 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $34,260 | 310 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,990 | 430 |
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 Arkansas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $27,780 | $13.35 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $41,440 | $19.92 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $34,860 | $16.76 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,560 | $19.50 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,850 | $22.04 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $38,800 | $18.66 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,960 | $21.61 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $43,160 | $20.75 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Fort Smith, AR-OK
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 Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area is $27,810 a year, or $13.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area earn at least $37,400 a year. The top 25% earn $36,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,500 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $27,810 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Fort Smith, AR-OK?
About 70 sewing machine operators are employed in the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, not counting the self-employed.