Sewing Machine Operator salary in South Carolina
Sewing Machine Operators in South Carolina earn a median of $38,250 a year ($18.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,210 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $36,670. South Carolina ranks 18th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 1.1 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,820, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,690 | $12.83 |
| 25th percentile | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| Median | $38,250 | $18.39 |
| 75th percentile | $43,530 | $20.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| Average (mean) | $37,820 | $18.19 |
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 | $3,187.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,593.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,471.15 |
| Weekly | $735.58 |
| Hourly | $18.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | $44,810 | 390 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,070 | 400 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | 560 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $38,110 | 380 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 1,640 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $32,120 | 160 |
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 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,470 | $14.65 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,280 | $18.40 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,760 | $19.12 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $43,380 | $20.85 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $39,960 | $19.21 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $33,030 | $15.88 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,160 | $14.02 |
| Upholsterer | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Sewers, Hand | $39,690 | $19.08 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,890 | $22.54 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in South Carolina is $38,250 a year, or $18.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in South Carolina earn at least $47,210 a year. The top 25% earn $43,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,690 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $32,840 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in South Carolina?
About 2,460 sewing machine operators are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.