Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,510 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Philadelphia earn between $31,310 and $38,630.
- $29K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,440 | $3,037 | $17.52 |
| Median | $35,360 | $2,947 | $17.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,310 | $2,609 | $15.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,630 | $3,219 | $18.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Philadelphia earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($36,180) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $36,440 | $35,360 | $28,890 | $45,510 | 1,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,180 | $35,640 | $28,340 | $45,510 | 3,390 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $36,440, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $30,341 a year, or $2,528 a month and $1,167 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NJ | $30,902 | $2,575 |
| Working in PA | $30,341 | $2,528 |
| Working in DE | $30,004 | $2,500 |
| Working in MD | $29,940 | $2,495 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $36,440 buys what about $35,532 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 6th of 12 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Scranton pays the most ($38,840).
- Scranton$38,840
- York$38,590
- Reading$37,230
- Allentown$37,050
- Erie$36,570
- Philadelphia$36,440
- Lebanon$36,190
- Harrisburg$35,940
- Lancaster$35,560
- Pittsburgh$35,240
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Sewing Machine Operators salary in Philadelphia: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$17.52 an hour on average, and $17.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $30,341 a year ($2,528 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,440. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.