Sewing Machine Operator salary in Wilmington, NC
Sewing Machine Operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $28,510 a year ($13.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 19% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $35,160. There are 0.57 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $32,910, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,330 | $13.14 |
| 25th percentile | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| Median | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| 75th percentile | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,750 | $21.03 |
| Average (mean) | $32,910 | $15.82 |
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 | $2,375.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,187.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,096.54 |
| Weekly | $548.27 |
| Hourly | $13.71 |
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 |
| Asheville, NC | $37,210 | 320 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| 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 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,310 | $34.77 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $57,840 | $27.81 |
| Baker | $34,430 | $16.55 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $37,940 | $18.24 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,340 | $26.60 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,320 | $21.79 |
| Machinist | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $60,190 | $28.94 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,850 | $18.68 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,390 | $24.23 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $28,510 a year, or $13.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $43,750 a year. The top 25% earn $38,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,330 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $28,510 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Wilmington, NC?
About 110 sewing machine operators are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.