Sewing Machine Operator salary in Washington
Sewing Machine Operators in Washington earn a median of $43,360 a year ($20.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,180 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $36,670. Washington ranks 5th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.45 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $43,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| 25th percentile | $39,130 | $18.81 |
| Median | $43,360 | $20.85 |
| 75th percentile | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,180 | $24.12 |
| Average (mean) | $43,720 | $21.02 |
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 | $3,613.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,806.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,667.69 |
| Weekly | $833.85 |
| Hourly | $20.85 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $47,220 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,350 | 1,060 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $41,980 | 630 |
| Bellingham, WA | $39,650 | 50 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $38,420 | 190 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $39,590 | $19.04 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Upholsterer | $55,970 | $26.91 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $67,890 | $32.64 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Sewers, Hand | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,310 | $38.13 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,700 | $20.05 |
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 Washington?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Washington is $43,360 a year, or $20.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Washington?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Washington earn at least $50,180 a year. The top 25% earn $46,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,180 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $39,130 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Washington?
About 1,600 sewing machine operators are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.