Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,670 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Knoxville earn between $19,130 and $44,710.
- $19K10th
- $19K25th
- $34KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,220 | $2,768 | $15.97 |
| Median | $33,680 | $2,807 | $16.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $19,130 | $1,594 | $9.20 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,710 | $3,726 | $21.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($33,760) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $33,220 | $33,680 | $19,010 | $46,670 | 520 |
| Tennessee | $33,760 | $34,220 | $19,130 | $46,800 | 3,300 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $33,220, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $28,872 a year, or $2,406 a month and $1,110 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $33,220 buys what about $35,887 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 9th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($36,980).
- Nashville$36,980
- Chattanooga$36,580
- Jackson$36,250
- Clarksville$34,240
- Memphis$34,000
- Cleveland$33,720
- Morristown$33,430
- Johnson City$33,350
- Knoxville$33,220
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Knoxville?
$15.97 an hour on average, and $16.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $19,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $19,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $28,872 a year ($2,406 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,220. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.83, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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