Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,400 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Portland earn between $38,200 and $48,730.
- $35K10th
- $38K25th
- $45KMedian
- $49K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,260 | $3,688 | $21.28 |
| Median | $45,160 | $3,763 | $21.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,730 | $4,061 | $23.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Portland earn 4% more than the Maine average ($42,450) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $44,260 | $45,160 | $34,920 | $54,400 | 240 |
| Maine | $42,450 | $43,520 | $32,760 | $49,460 | 700 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $44,260, a single filer in Portland takes home about $36,394 a year, or $3,033 a month and $1,400 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $44,260 buys what about $43,453 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 12.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Maine cities
Portland ranks 1st of 3 Maine metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
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Sewing Machine Operators salary in Portland: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Portland?
$21.28 an hour on average, and $21.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Portland?
About $36,394 a year ($3,033 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,260. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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