Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $42,460 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Raleigh earn between $28,110 and $36,570.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $31KMedian
- $37K75th
- $42K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,500 | $2,708 | $15.62 |
| Median | $30,960 | $2,580 | $14.88 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,110 | $2,342 | $13.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,570 | $3,048 | $17.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Raleigh earn 10% less than the North Carolina average ($36,250) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $32,500 | $30,960 | $23,510 | $42,460 | 340 |
| North Carolina | $36,250 | $35,160 | $26,560 | $48,570 | 8,290 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $32,500, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $27,506 a year, or $2,292 a month and $1,058 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $32,500 buys what about $33,110 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 13.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 9th of 13 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Hickory pays the most ($44,600).
- Hickory$44,600
- Asheville$36,250
- Charlotte$35,780
- Durham$35,420
- Greensboro$34,670
- Winston-Salem$33,750
- Greenville$33,550
- Wilmington$32,910
- Raleigh$32,500
- Fayetteville$32,100
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Raleigh?
$15.63 an hour on average, and $14.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $27,506 a year ($2,292 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,500.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Raleigh than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.68, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.68).
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