Sewing Machine Operator salary in Rhode Island
Sewing Machine Operators in Rhode Island earn a median of $38,670 a year ($18.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 270 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,180 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $36,670. Rhode Island ranks 15th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.54 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $40,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $33,280 | $16.00 |
| Median | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 75th percentile | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,180 | $24.61 |
| Average (mean) | $40,840 | $19.64 |
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 | $3,222.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,611.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,487.31 |
| Weekly | $743.65 |
| Hourly | $18.59 |
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 Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $38,160 | 820 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,760 | $18.64 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Upholsterer | $63,360 | $30.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $40,590 | $19.51 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $81,650 | $39.25 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,580 | $24.32 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,940 | $26.41 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Machinist | $57,760 | $27.77 |
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Rhode Island is $38,670 a year, or $18.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Rhode Island earn at least $51,180 a year. The top 25% earn $45,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $33,280 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Rhode Island?
About 270 sewing machine operators are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.