All About Sewing Machine Operators
Job Description & Duties Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Life As a Sewing Machine Operator
- Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications.
- Record quantities of materials processed.
- Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.
- Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
- Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.
- Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
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Sewing Machine Operator Needed Skills
Sewing Machine Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Types of Sewing Machine Operator Jobs
- Automatic Trimming Sewer
- Bathing Suit Maker
- Lockstitch Waistband Setter
- Ultrasonic Seaming Machine Operator
- Fur Sewer
Job Opportunities for Sewing Machine Operators
In the United States, there were 153,900 jobs for Sewing Machine Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Sewing Machine Operator. The BLS estimates 12,300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Sewing Machine Operator are Nevada, Alaska, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Sewing Machine Operators Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Sewing Machine Operators ranges between about $19,040 and $37,880 a year.

Sewing Machine Operators who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sewing Machine Operators make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $23,960 |
Alaska | $38,270 |
Arizona | $29,940 |
Arkansas | $24,270 |
California | $26,670 |
Colorado | $28,820 |
Connecticut | $35,120 |
Delaware | $28,530 |
District of Columbia | $35,830 |
Florida | $27,060 |
Georgia | $24,760 |
Hawaii | $27,450 |
Idaho | $25,360 |
Illinois | $29,010 |
Indiana | $28,180 |
Iowa | $28,320 |
Kansas | $28,530 |
Kentucky | $23,530 |
Louisiana | $24,540 |
Maine | $29,910 |
Maryland | $27,910 |
Massachusetts | $30,980 |
Michigan | $27,860 |
Minnesota | $29,610 |
Mississippi | $27,910 |
Missouri | $24,390 |
Montana | $27,750 |
Nebraska | $25,570 |
Nevada | $29,340 |
New Hampshire | $31,700 |
New Jersey | $24,370 |
New Mexico | $23,600 |
New York | $30,020 |
North Carolina | $27,990 |
North Dakota | $26,960 |
Ohio | $26,190 |
Oklahoma | $23,120 |
Oregon | $28,290 |
Pennsylvania | $26,670 |
Rhode Island | $30,870 |
South Carolina | $24,570 |
South Dakota | $27,130 |
Tennessee | $24,470 |
Texas | $23,850 |
Utah | $27,500 |
Vermont | $27,500 |
Virginia | $25,640 |
Washington | $33,320 |
West Virginia | $25,390 |
Wisconsin | $28,750 |
Wyoming | $28,910 |
What Tools do Sewing Machine Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sewing Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
How do I Become a Sewing Machine Operator?
What kind of Sewing Machine Operator requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Sewing Machine Operators Are Employed

Sewing Machine Operators work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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