Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,800 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Rochester earn between $33,670 and $37,390.
- $32K10th
- $34K25th
- $36KMedian
- $37K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,150 | $3,096 | $17.86 |
| Median | $35,930 | $2,994 | $17.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,670 | $2,806 | $16.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,390 | $3,116 | $17.98 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Rochester earn 11% less than the New York average ($41,930) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $37,150 | $35,930 | $32,240 | $45,800 | 400 |
| New York | $41,930 | $38,480 | $33,790 | $55,290 | 6,130 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $37,150, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $30,592 a year, or $2,549 a month and $1,177 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $37,150 buys what about $38,285 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 7.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 9th of 10 New York metro areas for this job; Kiryas Joel pays the most ($45,920).
- Kiryas Joel$45,920
- Glens Falls$45,430
- Binghamton$42,060
- New York$41,160
- Syracuse$41,060
- Kingston$40,980
- Albany$40,590
- Buffalo$39,090
- Rochester$37,150
- Utica$34,230
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
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Sewing Machine Operators salary in Rochester: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Rochester?
$17.86 an hour on average, and $17.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Rochester?
About $30,592 a year ($2,549 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,150. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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