Sewing Machine Operators Salary
The median pay for a sewing machine operators in Texas is $31,000/year ($14.9/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $33,883 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 63.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $31K get you in Texas?
About sewing machine operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Texas
Pay for sewing machine operators in Texas runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 63% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for sewing machine operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level sewing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $31K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Sewing Machine Operators salary by metro in Texas
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa | $36K | +17% | 40 |
| Longview | $36K | +17% | 50 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $36K | +16% | 380 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $35K | +14% | 2,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $34K | +8% | 1,270 |
| Amarillo | $32K | +2% | 40 |
| Corpus Christi | $30K | -2% | 100 |
| Lubbock | $30K | -4% | 40 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $30K | -4% | 360 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $29K | -6% | 50 |
| Wichita Falls | $29K | -6% | 50 |
| Tyler | $29K | -6% | 60 |
| Waco | $28K | -9% | 70 |
| San Angelo | $27K | -13% | 30 |
| El Paso | $22K | -28% | 720 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
Compare to other states
Track sewing machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a sewing machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $31K, rent takes 63% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sewing machine operators typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,285/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 110% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $31K here vs. $37K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for sewing machine operators?
Texas pays $31K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do sewing machine operators make in Texas?
The median is $31,000 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,420, and experienced sewing machine operators can clear $44,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $31K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,246/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 63% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $33,883 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.