Sewing Machine Operator salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Sewing Machine Operators in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $36,170 a year ($17.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,730 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 23% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $29,460. There are 1.1 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,040, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,510 | $11.79 |
| 25th percentile | $30,010 | $14.43 |
| Median | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 75th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Average (mean) | $34,040 | $16.37 |
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 | $3,014.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,507.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,391.15 |
| Weekly | $695.58 |
| Hourly | $17.39 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 820 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $32,930 | 440 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $32,690 | 50 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $32,230 | 50 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,210 | 30 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,260 | 100 |
| Owensboro, KY | $25,980 | 150 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,350 | $14.11 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $32,720 | $15.73 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,410 | $36.74 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| Food Batchmaker | $56,730 | $27.27 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $53,680 | $25.81 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,710 | $23.42 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| Printing Press Operator | $47,400 | $22.79 |
| Baker | $34,460 | $16.57 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $36,170 a year, or $17.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $44,730 a year. The top 25% earn $36,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,510 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $30,010 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 300 sewing machine operators are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.