Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Modesto, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Modesto, CA

Median annual salary $38,100 +5.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.32
10th percentile $34,500
90th percentile $46,630
Employed locally 30
National median $36,000

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Sewing Machine Operators
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Modesto, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,500
    25th
    $35,380
    50th (median)
    $38,100
    75th
    $43,740
    90th
    $46,630

    Modesto economic context

    Unemployment rate 6.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $79,661 2023 • Census ACS
    Sewing Machine Operators salary vs area income 48% Median Sewing Machine Operators salary is 52% 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
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $46,990
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,910
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $43,460
    Vallejo, CA $43,180
    Napa, CA $42,550
    Stockton-Lodi, CA $42,090

    Related occupations in Modesto, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $56,990
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $77,270
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,720
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $51,920
    Food Processing Workers, All Other $39,820
    Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $56,430

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Modesto, CA is $18.32, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.42 or more per hour.

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

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in Modesto, CA is 5.8% above 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 Modesto?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $34,500 per year in Modesto, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,380.