Sewing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a sewing machine operators in Hawaii is $39,230/year ($18.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $35,609 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 82.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Hawaii?
About sewing machine operators
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Sewing machine operators pay in Hawaii tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 86.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level sewing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Sewing Machine Operators salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu | $37K | -4% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track sewing machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sewing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 86.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sewing machine operators in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sewing machine operators typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,933/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 116% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sewing machine operator a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for sewing machine operators?
Hawaii pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do sewing machine operators make in Hawaii?
The median is $39,230 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,210, and experienced sewing machine operators can clear $60,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,601/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 86.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sewing machine operators salary go in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sewing machine operators salary is worth about $35,609 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sewing machine operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.