Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Rochester, NY

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rochester, NY

Median annual salary $34,810 -3.3% vs national
Median hourly $16.73
10th percentile $31,200
90th percentile $44,070
Employed locally 380
National median $36,000

Compare Sewing Machine Operators salary & buying power

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Sewing Machine Operators
in
Rochester, NY
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,200
    25th
    $34,510
    50th (median)
    $34,810
    75th
    $37,550
    90th
    $44,070

    Rochester economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $74,438 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
    Glens Falls, NY $48,380
    Kingston, NY $46,170
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,910
    Binghamton, NY $40,060
    Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $38,170
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $37,590

    Related occupations in Rochester, NY

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$41,620
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,020
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$39,150
    Machinists$53,860
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,870

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Rochester, NY is $16.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.02 or more per hour.

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

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in Rochester, NY is 3.3% 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 Rochester?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $31,200 per year in Rochester, NY. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,510.