Sewing Machine Operator salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Sewing Machine Operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $41,410 a year ($19.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,480 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 16% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $35,790. There are 0.21 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.31). The average (mean) salary is $43,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Median | $41,410 | $19.91 |
| 75th percentile | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,480 | $27.64 |
| Average (mean) | $43,480 | $20.90 |
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 | $3,450.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,725.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,592.69 |
| Weekly | $796.35 |
| Hourly | $19.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $41,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | $36,750 | 220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,860 | 630 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,730 | 300 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $35,360 | 1,400 |
| Richmond, VA | $35,310 | 210 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $35,120 | 100 |
| Salisbury, MD | $31,200 | 130 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,210 | 30 |
| Charleston, WV | $28,430 | 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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $55,000 | $26.44 |
| Upholsterer | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Baker | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,670 | $29.17 |
| Printing Press Operator | $49,490 | $23.79 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $73,600 | $35.38 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $44,160 | $21.23 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $91,480 | $43.98 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $41,410 a year, or $19.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $57,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $57,480 a year. The top 25% earn $50,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $35,510 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 660 sewing machine operators are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.