Sewing Machine Operator salary in Louisiana
Sewing Machine Operators in Louisiana earn a median of $29,600 a year ($14.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,100 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $36,670. Louisiana ranks 48th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.32 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.47). The average (mean) salary is $29,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,180 | $10.18 |
| 25th percentile | $23,930 | $11.50 |
| Median | $29,600 | $14.23 |
| 75th percentile | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Average (mean) | $29,830 | $14.34 |
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 | $2,466.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,233.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,138.46 |
| Weekly | $569.23 |
| Hourly | $14.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in cities in Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $31,950 | 130 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $31,170 | 140 |
| Lafayette, LA | $28,640 | 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 |
Related jobs in Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $27,460 | $13.20 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $33,560 | $16.14 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $27,170 | $13.06 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Upholsterer | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,860 | $17.72 |
| Sewers, Hand | $27,040 | $13.00 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,520 | $37.27 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,490 | $23.80 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,210 | $21.73 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $78,580 | $37.78 |
| Machinist | $61,110 | $29.38 |
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Louisiana is $29,600 a year, or $14.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Louisiana earn at least $38,100 a year. The top 25% earn $34,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,180 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $23,930 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Louisiana?
About 610 sewing machine operators are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.