Sewing Machine Operator salary in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn a median of $39,420 a year ($18.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,300 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 4% higher than the California statewide median of $37,940. There are 0.38 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $41,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| 25th percentile | $37,160 | $17.86 |
| Median | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 75th percentile | $43,160 | $20.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Average (mean) | $41,090 | $19.76 |
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 | $3,285 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,642.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,516.15 |
| Weekly | $758.08 |
| Hourly | $18.95 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $56,890 | $27.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,250 | $33.29 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| Baker | $43,630 | $20.98 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,900 | $24.47 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $85,960 | $41.33 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,360 | $21.33 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $60,100 | $28.89 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,800 | $25.39 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $39,420 a year, or $18.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,170 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area earn at least $47,300 a year. The top 25% earn $43,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,170 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $37,160 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA?
About 80 sewing machine operators are employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.