Sewing Machine Operator salary in New York
Sewing Machine Operators in New York earn a median of $38,480 a year ($18.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,290 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $36,670. New York ranks 16th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.63 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,930, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,790 | $16.25 |
| 25th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Median | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| 75th percentile | $45,730 | $21.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| Average (mean) | $41,930 | $20.16 |
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 | $3,206.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,603.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,480 |
| Weekly | $740 |
| Hourly | $18.50 |
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 New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Glens Falls, NY | $50,000 | 40 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $43,650 | 130 |
| Binghamton, NY | $41,330 | 160 |
| Kingston, NY | $39,370 | 30 |
| Syracuse, NY | $37,850 | 80 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $37,790 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,780 | 6,700 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $37,180 | 240 |
| Rochester, NY | $35,930 | 400 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $32,480 | 90 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,050 | $16.85 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $60,210 | $28.95 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| Upholsterer | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,810 | $22.50 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,220 | $17.90 |
| Sewers, Hand | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,030 | $18.77 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $42,100 | $20.24 |
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 New York?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in New York is $38,480 a year, or $18.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in New York?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in New York earn at least $55,290 a year. The top 25% earn $45,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,790 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,790 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in New York?
About 6,130 sewing machine operators are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.