Sewing Machine Operator salary in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn a median of $38,630 a year ($18.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,890 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 8% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $35,640. There are 1.1 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| 25th percentile | $34,870 | $16.77 |
| Median | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| 75th percentile | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| Average (mean) | $38,840 | $18.67 |
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 | $3,219.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,609.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,485.77 |
| Weekly | $742.88 |
| Hourly | $18.57 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | $39,430 | 140 |
| Reading, PA | $37,820 | 240 |
| Erie, PA | $36,990 | 50 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,530 | 30 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $35,820 | 340 |
| Lancaster, PA | $35,630 | 190 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,440 | 490 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $35,380 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 1,400 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,160 | 30 |
| Williamsport, PA | $29,260 | 30 |
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 Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $32,210 | $15.49 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,160 | $35.18 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,630 | $25.31 |
| Food Batchmaker | $39,780 | $19.12 |
| Baker | $36,260 | $17.43 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Printing Press Operator | $47,340 | $22.76 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area is $38,630 a year, or $18.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area earn at least $46,890 a year. The top 25% earn $45,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,890 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $34,870 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA?
About 290 sewing machine operators are employed in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, not counting the self-employed.