Sewing Machine Operator salary in Knoxville, TN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $33,680 a year ($16.19 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $19,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,670 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 2% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $34,220. 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 $33,220, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $19,010 | $9.14 |
| 25th percentile | $19,130 | $9.20 |
| Median | $33,680 | $16.19 |
| 75th percentile | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Average (mean) | $33,220 | $15.97 |
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 | $2,806.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,403.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,295.38 |
| Weekly | $647.69 |
| Hourly | $16.19 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $37,500 | 870 |
| Jackson, TN | $37,380 | 50 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $36,800 | 180 |
| Cleveland, TN | $36,400 | 50 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $33,990 | 430 |
| Morristown, TN | $33,850 | 60 |
| Johnson City, TN | $33,420 | 40 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $32,690 | 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 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,300 | $15.53 |
| Upholsterer | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,130 | $19.30 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,300 | $30.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Machinist | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Baker | $31,890 | $15.33 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,400 | $18.94 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $33,680 a year, or $16.19 an hour. Pay ranges from $19,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $46,670 a year. The top 25% earn $44,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $19,010 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $19,130 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Knoxville, TN?
About 520 sewing machine operators are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.