Sewing Machine Operator salary in Texas
Sewing Machine Operators in Texas earn a median of $31,000 a year ($14.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $21,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,290 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $36,670. Texas ranks 46th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.49 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $32,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $21,420 | $10.30 |
| 25th percentile | $26,200 | $12.60 |
| Median | $31,000 | $14.90 |
| 75th percentile | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| Average (mean) | $32,430 | $15.59 |
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 | $2,583.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,291.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,192.31 |
| Weekly | $596.15 |
| Hourly | $14.90 |
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 Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | $36,380 | 40 |
| Longview, TX | $36,290 | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $35,890 | 380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $35,260 | 2,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $33,530 | 1,270 |
| Amarillo, TX | $31,510 | 40 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $30,300 | 100 |
| Lubbock, TX | $29,900 | 40 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,760 | 360 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $29,230 | 50 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $29,110 | 50 |
| Tyler, TX | $29,030 | 60 |
| Waco, TX | $28,230 | 70 |
| San Angelo, TX | $27,010 | 30 |
| El Paso, TX | $22,400 | 720 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,630 | $14.25 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $29,680 | $14.27 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $30,620 | $14.72 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $36,260 | $17.44 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Upholsterer | $42,930 | $20.64 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $30,160 | $14.50 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $46,970 | $22.58 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $26,560 | $12.77 |
| Sewers, Hand | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $34,790 | $16.72 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $34,930 | $16.79 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,320 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,140 | $33.72 |
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 Texas?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Texas is $31,000 a year, or $14.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $21,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Texas?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Texas earn at least $44,290 a year. The top 25% earn $37,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $21,420 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $26,200 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Texas?
About 6,950 sewing machine operators are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.