Sewing Machine Operators: 104,880 jobs, median pay $36,670 · where the jobs are in the U.S.

104,880

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$36,670

Median pay a year

Middle half: $31,960–$42,830

9,800

Annual openings

10-year change: −15.1%

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 233 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $37,130 · LCA filings 09,310$37,1300

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $37,780 · LCA filings 06,700$37,7800

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $30,620 · LCA filings 03,680$30,6200

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $36,220 · LCA filings 03,450$36,2200

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $35,260 · LCA filings 02,420$35,2600

Mayaguez, PRMedian pay $21,840 · LCA filings 02,370$21,8400

Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NCMedian pay $46,540 · LCA filings 01,860$46,5400

Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SCMedian pay $34,940 · LCA filings 01,640$34,9400

Greensboro–High Point, NCMedian pay $32,470 · LCA filings 01,460$32,4700

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $35,360 · LCA filings 01,400$35,3600

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

Bend, OREmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$50,830500

Glens Falls, NYEmployment 40 · LCA filings 0$50,000400

Appleton, WIEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$48,4601100

Las Vegas–Henderson–North Las Vegas, NVEmployment 460 · LCA filings 0$48,1904600

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 220 · LCA filings 0$47,2202200

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $37,898 · Level III $40,310 · Level IV $42,744$35,464$37,898$40,310$42,744

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $37,939 · Level III $41,122 · Level IV $44,325$34,736$37,939$41,122$44,325

Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $30,326 · Level III $33,010 · Level IV $35,714$27,622$30,326$33,010$35,714

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $36,670 · Level III $39,000 · Level IV $41,350$34,320$36,670$39,000$41,350

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $31,158 · Level III $35,152 · Level IV $39,125$27,186$31,158$35,152$39,125

Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NCLevel II $38,792 · Level III $44,554 · Level IV $50,315$33,030$38,792$44,554$50,315

Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC–SCLevel II $31,866 · Level III $35,734 · Level IV $39,624$27,976$31,866$35,734$39,624

Greensboro–High Point, NCLevel II $30,638 · Level III $34,632 · Level IV $38,605$26,666$30,638$34,632$38,605

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $33,072 · Level III $36,400 · Level IV $39,749$29,723$33,072$36,400$39,749

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology