Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $35,710 -0.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.17
10th percentile $26,600
90th percentile $47,640
Employed locally 220
National median $36,000

Compare Sewing Machine Operators salary & buying power

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Sewing Machine Operators
in
Durham, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $26,600
    25th
    $30,550
    50th (median)
    $35,710
    75th
    $38,400
    90th
    $47,640

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Sewing Machine Operators salary vs area income 44% Median Sewing Machine Operators salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Sewing Machine Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $49,980
    Appleton, WI $48,880
    Glens Falls, NY $48,380
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $46,990
    Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $46,450
    Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,360

    Nearby metros — Sewing Machine Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,360
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $44,570
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $43,460
    Manchester-Nashua, NH $40,060
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $39,350
    North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $37,520

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,040
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,930
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,740
    Production Workers, All Other$48,460
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$31,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Sewing Machine Operators make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Durham, NC is $17.17, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.27 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Sewing Machine Operators salaries?

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in Durham, NC is 0.8% below the national median of $36,000. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Sewing Machine Operators in Durham?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $26,600 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,550.