Sewing Machine Operator salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Sewing Machine Operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $39,070 a year ($18.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 820 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,880 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 3% higher than the California statewide median of $37,940. There are 0.53 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $40,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,490 | $17.06 |
| 25th percentile | $36,690 | $17.64 |
| Median | $39,070 | $18.79 |
| 75th percentile | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Average (mean) | $40,820 | $19.63 |
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 | $3,255.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,627.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,502.69 |
| Weekly | $751.35 |
| Hourly | $18.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | 220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,880 | 740 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $44,350 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $43,500 | 120 |
| Napa, CA | $42,550 | 30 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,080 | 190 |
| Merced, CA | $40,630 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $39,800 | 180 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,570 | 730 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $39,420 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,610 | 160 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $38,550 | 80 |
| Fresno, CA | $38,270 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $38,100 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,130 | 9,310 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,740 | 50 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,510 | $17.56 |
| Upholsterer | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $35,470 | $17.05 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $85,490 | $41.10 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,350 | $22.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,850 | $23.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,350 | $38.15 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,560 | $30.08 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,730 | $21.51 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,000 | $19.23 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $39,070 a year, or $18.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $47,880 a year. The top 25% earn $42,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,490 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,690 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 820 sewing machine operators are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.