Sewing Machine Operator salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $35,730 a year ($17.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 300 workers.
Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,560 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $35,790. There are 0.39 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $36,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,810 | $12.41 |
| 25th percentile | $29,080 | $13.98 |
| Median | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 75th percentile | $43,230 | $20.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| Average (mean) | $36,420 | $17.51 |
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 | $2,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,488.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,374.23 |
| Weekly | $687.12 |
| Hourly | $17.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,540 | 1,860 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $41,410 | 660 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,210 | 320 |
| Roanoke, VA | $36,750 | 220 |
| Richmond, VA | $35,310 | 210 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $34,940 | 1,640 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $34,850 | 320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $32,470 | 1,460 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $30,960 | 340 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,150 | 450 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $29,640 | 150 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,570 | 180 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,280 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $29,230 | 100 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $28,560 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $28,510 | 110 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,640 | $15.21 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $49,170 | $23.64 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Upholsterer | $44,450 | $21.37 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,620 | $38.28 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Machinist | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,970 | $28.83 |
| Baker | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $45,530 | $21.89 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $35,730 a year, or $17.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $25,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $45,560 a year. The top 25% earn $43,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $25,810 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $29,080 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 300 sewing machine operators are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.