# Sewing Machine Operators

> Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewing-machine-operators
- SOC code: 51-6031.00
- Career family: Production
- Median annual pay: $36,670 (10th percentile $27,860, 90th percentile $47,840)
- Projected growth: Decline, -15.1%
- Openings a year: 9,800
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 96 |
| Investigative (I) | 6 |
| Artistic (A) | 13 |
| Social (S) | 3 |
| Enterprising (E) | 2 |
| Conventional (C) | 50 |

## What you'd do

- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 64/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 61/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 60/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 56/100)
- Getting Information (importance 56/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 55/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 49/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 48/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 47/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 47/100)

## Skills

Monitoring, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Operation and Control, Reading Comprehension

## Knowledge

English Language, Production and Processing, Mathematics, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service, Public Safety and Security, Mechanical, Administration and Management, Transportation, Computers and Electronics

## Also called

Appliquer, Apron Operator, Armhole Sewer, Automat Watcher, Automatic Hemmer, Automatic Seamer, Automatic Serging Machine Operator, Automatic Shirring Machine Operator, Automatic Trimming Sewer, Back Facer

## Related careers

- [Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/shoe-machine-operators-and-tenders): $35,650 median pay
- [Sewers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sewers-hand): $36,480 median pay
- [Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pressers-textile-garment-and-related-materials): $35,060 median pay
- [Cutters and Trimmers, Hand](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutters-and-trimmers-hand): $38,020 median pay
- [Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cutting-and-slicing-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $46,570 median pay
- [Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/textile-knitting-and-weaving-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders): $39,530 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.