Sewing Machine Operator salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Sewing Machine Operators in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn a median of $35,320 a year ($16.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 770 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,770 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 6% higher than the Florida statewide median of $33,270. There are 0.53 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $35,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,180 | $13.07 |
| 25th percentile | $29,550 | $14.21 |
| Median | $35,320 | $16.98 |
| 75th percentile | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,770 | $22.00 |
| Average (mean) | $35,520 | $17.08 |
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 | $2,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,471.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,358.46 |
| Weekly | $679.23 |
| Hourly | $16.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,320 salary, see how much house you can afford in Florida 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $38,500 | 60 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $37,020 | 120 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $36,730 | 470 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,240 | 120 |
| Ocala, FL | $35,690 | 60 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $35,510 | 250 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $35,360 | 200 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $35,180 | 120 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $35,010 | 290 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $34,170 | 30 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $33,700 | 110 |
| Gainesville, FL | $32,470 | 70 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $30,620 | 3,680 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $29,590 | 40 |
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 Florida statewide figures.
Related jobs in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,450 | $15.12 |
| Upholsterer | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,930 | $18.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,510 | $31.02 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,070 | $18.30 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $38,490 | $18.51 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Baker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Machinist | $57,160 | $27.48 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area is $35,320 a year, or $16.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,180 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,770 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area earn at least $45,770 a year. The top 25% earn $36,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,180 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $29,550 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
About 770 sewing machine operators are employed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, not counting the self-employed.