Sewing Machine Operator salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Sewing Machine Operators in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn a median of $35,820 a year ($17.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 340 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,270 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 1% higher than the Pennsylvania statewide median of $35,640. There are 0.89 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $37,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,110 | $14.00 |
| 25th percentile | $29,950 | $14.40 |
| Median | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| 75th percentile | $43,410 | $20.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,270 | $21.29 |
| Average (mean) | $37,050 | $17.81 |
Half of sewing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,985 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,492.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,377.69 |
| Weekly | $688.85 |
| Hourly | $17.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Pennsylvania at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| York-Hanover, PA | $39,430 | 140 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $38,630 | 290 |
| Reading, PA | $37,820 | 240 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,780 | 6,700 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $37,620 | 50 |
| Erie, PA | $36,990 | 50 |
| Lebanon, PA | $36,530 | 30 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $36,150 | 170 |
| Lancaster, PA | $35,630 | 190 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $35,440 | 490 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $35,380 | 100 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 1,400 |
| Vineland, NJ | $32,220 | 50 |
| Johnstown, PA | $30,160 | 30 |
| Williamsport, PA | $29,260 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for sewing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 |
| Alaska | $43,850 |
| Colorado | $43,840 |
| Maine | $43,520 |
| Washington | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $40,850 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the Pennsylvania statewide figures.
Related jobs in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $54,790 | $26.34 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $59,010 | $28.37 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,080 | $28.89 |
| Food Batchmaker | $42,070 | $20.22 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,490 | $22.83 |
| Machinist | $59,330 | $28.53 |
| Baker | $37,400 | $17.98 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area is $35,820 a year, or $17.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area earn at least $44,270 a year. The top 25% earn $43,410 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,110 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $29,950 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ?
About 340 sewing machine operators are employed in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.