Sewing Machine Operator salary in Reading, PA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median of $37,820 a year ($18.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,140 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 6% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $35,640. There are 1.4 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,230, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Reading, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,170 | $14.02 |
| 25th percentile | $33,830 | $16.26 |
| Median | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| 75th percentile | $38,340 | $18.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,140 | $22.66 |
| Average (mean) | $37,230 | $17.90 |
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 | $3,151.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,575.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,454.62 |
| Weekly | $727.31 |
| Hourly | $18.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | $39,430 | 140 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,630 | 290 |
| Erie, PA | $36,990 | 50 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,530 | 30 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $35,820 | 340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $35,630 | 190 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,440 | 490 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $35,380 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 1,400 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,160 | 30 |
| Williamsport, PA | $29,260 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,200 | $37.60 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,840 | $26.36 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $54,350 | $26.13 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,470 | $26.19 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $70,310 | $33.80 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $54,760 | $26.33 |
| Machinist | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,260 | $26.57 |
| Food Batchmaker | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| Baker | $35,730 | $17.18 |
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 Reading, PA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Reading, PA metro area is $37,820 a year, or $18.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Reading, PA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Reading, PA metro area earn at least $47,140 a year. The top 25% earn $38,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Reading, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,170 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $33,830 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Reading, PA?
About 240 sewing machine operators are employed in the Reading, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.