Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $36,640 +1.8% vs national
Median hourly $17.61
10th percentile $27,980
90th percentile $45,670
Employed locally 240
National median $36,000

Compare Sewing Machine Operators salary & buying power

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Sewing Machine Operators
in
Reading, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $27,980
    25th
    $32,330
    50th (median)
    $36,640
    75th
    $38,730
    90th
    $45,670

    Reading economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $77,684 2023 • Census ACS
    Sewing Machine Operators salary vs area income 47% Median Sewing Machine Operators salary is 53% 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
    Champaign-Urbana, IL $45,410
    Napa, CA $42,550
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $40,520
    San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $39,610
    Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $38,960
    York-Hanover, PA $38,150

    Related occupations in Reading, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,670
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$51,460
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,520
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$41,230
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$52,590

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Reading, PA is $17.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.66 or more per hour.

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

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in Reading, PA is 1.8% 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 Reading?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $27,980 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $32,330.