Sewing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a sewing machine operators in Modesto, CA is $38,100/year ($18.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.11), that's roughly $36,596 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,758/month, about 66.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $38K get you in Modesto?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Modesto’s Regional Price Parity (104.11). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About sewing machine operators
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What this looks like in Modesto
Sewing machine operators pay in Modesto tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,758/month, which is 66% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 104.11) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sewing machine operators in metros near Modesto, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $37K | $33K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $39K | $35K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $45K | $39K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $40K | $37K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Modesto, CA
Entry-level sewing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Sewing Machine Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Sewing Machine Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $46K | +25% | 910 |
| Alaska | $44K | +20% | 40 |
| Colorado | $44K | +20% | 970 |
| Maine | $44K | +19% | 700 |
| Washington | $43K | +18% | 1,600 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +17% | 1,540 |
| New Hampshire | $42K | +14% | 190 |
| Vermont | $41K | +11% | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | +10% | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $40K | +10% | 1,420 |
| Oregon | $40K | +8% | 1,250 |
| Hawaii | $39K | +7% | 280 |
| South Dakota | $39K | +6% | 300 |
| Minnesota | $39K | +6% | 1,890 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +5% | 270 |
| New York | $38K | +5% | 6,130 |
| Indiana | $38K | +5% | 3,400 |
| South Carolina | $38K | +4% | 2,460 |
| California | $38K | +3% | 13,240 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +3% | 480 |
| Delaware | $38K | +3% | 60 |
| Mississippi | $38K | +3% | 2,270 |
| Michigan | $37K | +2% | 3,210 |
| Idaho | $37K | +1% | 410 |
| Nebraska | $37K | +1% | 300 |
| Montana | $37K | +0% | 190 |
| Wyoming | $37K | -0% | 110 |
| Illinois | $36K | -1% | 4,060 |
| New Jersey | $36K | -1% | 2,750 |
| Iowa | $36K | -2% | 590 |
| Maryland | $36K | -2% | 1,390 |
| Virginia | $36K | -2% | 2,010 |
| Ohio | $36K | -2% | 4,100 |
| North Dakota | $36K | -3% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | -3% | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -3% | 860 |
| Missouri | $36K | -3% | 2,320 |
| Utah | $36K | -3% | 1,020 |
| Kansas | $35K | -4% | 650 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -4% | 8,290 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -5% | 220 |
| Georgia | $35K | -5% | 3,420 |
| Tennessee | $34K | -7% | 3,300 |
| Oklahoma | $33K | -9% | 580 |
| Florida | $33K | -9% | 6,790 |
| Texas | $31K | -15% | 6,950 |
| Alabama | $31K | -16% | 2,300 |
| Louisiana | $30K | -19% | 610 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -20% | 2,750 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -20% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track sewing machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Modesto numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sewing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Modesto?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 66% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,758/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 Modesto?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sewing machine operators typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,070/month. At HUD’s $1,758/month FMR, rent would take 85% 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 Modesto?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Modesto compare to the national average for sewing machine operators?
Modesto pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.11), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do sewing machine operators make in Modesto, CA?
The median is $38,100 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,500, and experienced sewing machine operators can clear $46,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Modesto?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,662/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,758/month, which eats 66% 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 Modesto?
Modesto has a Regional Price Parity of 104.11 (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 $36,596 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.