Sewing Machine Operator salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $44,350 a year ($21.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,660 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 17% higher than the California statewide median of $37,940. There are 0.44 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $47,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| 25th percentile | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Median | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| 75th percentile | $53,600 | $25.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,660 | $31.09 |
| Average (mean) | $47,460 | $22.82 |
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 | $3,695.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,847.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,705.77 |
| Weekly | $852.88 |
| Hourly | $21.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,220 | 220 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,880 | 740 |
| 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 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $39,070 | 820 |
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,910 | $18.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,610 | $20.96 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Baker | $42,920 | $20.63 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,690 | $35.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $49,280 | $23.69 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,560 | $26.71 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $94,060 | $45.22 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $49,340 | $23.72 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $59,280 | $28.50 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $44,350 a year, or $21.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $64,660 a year. The top 25% earn $53,600 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,850 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $38,100 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 40 sewing machine operators are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.