Sewing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a sewing machine operators in Tennessee is $34,220/year ($16.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $19K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $38,115 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 49.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Tennessee?
About sewing machine operators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Sewing machine operators pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $34K locally vs. $37K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level sewing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $19K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Sewing Machine Operators salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $38K | +10% | 870 |
| Jackson | $37K | +9% | 50 |
| Chattanooga | $37K | +8% | 180 |
| Cleveland | $36K | +6% | 50 |
| Memphis | $34K | -1% | 430 |
| Morristown | $34K | -1% | 60 |
| Knoxville | $34K | -2% | 520 |
| Johnson City | $33K | -2% | 40 |
| Clarksville | $33K | -4% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track sewing machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sewing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sewing machine operators typically earn — is $19K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,148/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 106% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $34K locally vs. $37K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for sewing machine operators?
Tennessee pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sewing machine operators make in Tennessee?
The median is $34,220 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $19,130, and experienced sewing machine operators can clear $46,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,461/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 49.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sewing machine operators salary is worth about $38,115 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.