Sewing Machine Operator salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn a median of $29,230 a year ($14.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,820 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 17% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,160. There are 1.9 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $30,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Rocky Mount, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,890 | $11.49 |
| 25th percentile | $23,890 | $11.49 |
| Median | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| 75th percentile | $37,040 | $17.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,820 | $18.18 |
| Average (mean) | $30,700 | $14.76 |
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 | $2,435.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,217.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,124.23 |
| Weekly | $562.12 |
| Hourly | $14.05 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,540 | 1,860 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,210 | 320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 1,640 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,850 | 320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $32,470 | 1,460 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $30,960 | 340 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,150 | 450 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,640 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,570 | 180 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,280 | 70 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $28,560 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $28,510 | 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 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rocky Mount, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,430 | $36.74 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,660 | $23.87 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,550 | $21.42 |
| Baker | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,290 | $19.85 |
| Food Batchmaker | $39,710 | $19.09 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| Machinist | $56,920 | $27.37 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,690 | $19.56 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Rocky Mount, NC
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 Rocky Mount, NC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area is $29,230 a year, or $14.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Rocky Mount, NC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area earn at least $37,820 a year. The top 25% earn $37,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Rocky Mount, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,890 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $23,890 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Rocky Mount, NC?
About 100 sewing machine operators are employed in the Rocky Mount, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.