Sewing Machine Operators Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $38,180 +6.1% vs national
Median hourly $18.36
10th percentile $34,870
90th percentile $47,520
Employed locally 900
National median $36,000

Compare Sewing Machine Operators salary & buying power

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Sewing Machine Operators
in
San Diego, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $34,870
    25th
    $35,840
    50th (median)
    $38,180
    75th
    $43,130
    90th
    $47,520

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Sewing Machine Operators salary vs area income 37% Median Sewing Machine Operators salary is 63% 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $56,110
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $47,860
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,010
    Production Workers, All Other $39,290
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $40,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Sewing Machine Operators make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in San Diego, CA is $18.36, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.02 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Sewing Machine Operators salaries?

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in San Diego, CA is 6.1% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $34,870 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,840.