Sewing Machine Operator salary in Roanoke, VA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn a median of $36,750 a year ($17.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 3% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $35,790. There are 1.4 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,170, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Roanoke, VA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,960 | $13.44 |
| 25th percentile | $28,880 | $13.89 |
| Median | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 75th percentile | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| Average (mean) | $35,170 | $16.91 |
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 | $3,062.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,531.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,413.46 |
| Weekly | $706.73 |
| Hourly | $17.67 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,410 | 660 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| Richmond, VA | $35,310 | 210 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Roanoke, VA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,960 | $15.36 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,900 | $21.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,080 | $35.14 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,670 | $20.52 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,770 | $19.12 |
| Machinist | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Food Batchmaker | $38,300 | $18.42 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,530 | $19.01 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,520 | $22.84 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,530 | $19.49 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $38,460 | $18.49 |
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 Roanoke, VA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Roanoke, VA metro area is $36,750 a year, or $17.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Roanoke, VA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Roanoke, VA metro area earn at least $43,750 a year. The top 25% earn $37,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Roanoke, VA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,960 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $28,880 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Roanoke, VA?
About 220 sewing machine operators are employed in the Roanoke, VA metro area, not counting the self-employed.