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What is a Sewing Machine Operator?
Job Description: Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Life As a Sewing Machine Operator: What Do They Do?
- Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
- Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
- Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.
- Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
- Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design.
- Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.
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Sewing Machine Operator Required Skills
When polled, Sewing Machine Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Other Sewing Machine Operator Job Titles
- Lockstitch Tunnel Elastic Operator
- Slip Cover Operator
- Shirt Bander
- Overedger
- Sleeve Setter
Sewing Machine Operator Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 153,900 jobs in the United States for Sewing Machine Operator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Sewing Machine Operator. There will be an estimated 12,300 positions for Sewing Machine Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Sewing Machine Operator are Nevada, Alaska, and Wyoming. Watch out if you plan on working in New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Sewing Machine Operators Salary
Sewing Machine Operators make between $19,040 and $37,880 a year.
Sewing Machine Operators who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sewing Machine Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $23,960 |
| Alaska | $38,270 |
| Arizona | $29,940 |
| Arkansas | $24,270 |
| California | $26,670 |
| Colorado | $28,820 |
| Connecticut | $35,120 |
| Delaware | $28,530 |
| District of Columbia | $35,830 |
| Florida | $27,060 |
| Georgia | $24,760 |
| Hawaii | $27,450 |
| Idaho | $25,360 |
| Illinois | $29,010 |
| Indiana | $28,180 |
| Iowa | $28,320 |
| Kansas | $28,530 |
| Kentucky | $23,530 |
| Louisiana | $24,540 |
| Maine | $29,910 |
| Maryland | $27,910 |
| Massachusetts | $30,980 |
| Michigan | $27,860 |
| Minnesota | $29,610 |
| Mississippi | $27,910 |
| Missouri | $24,390 |
| Montana | $27,750 |
| Nebraska | $25,570 |
| Nevada | $29,340 |
| New Hampshire | $31,700 |
| New Jersey | $24,370 |
| New Mexico | $23,600 |
| New York | $30,020 |
| North Carolina | $27,990 |
| North Dakota | $26,960 |
| Ohio | $26,190 |
| Oklahoma | $23,120 |
| Oregon | $28,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $26,670 |
| Rhode Island | $30,870 |
| South Carolina | $24,570 |
| South Dakota | $27,130 |
| Tennessee | $24,470 |
| Texas | $23,850 |
| Utah | $27,500 |
| Vermont | $27,500 |
| Virginia | $25,640 |
| Washington | $33,320 |
| West Virginia | $25,390 |
| Wisconsin | $28,750 |
| Wyoming | $28,910 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Sewing Machine Operators
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sewing Machine Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Email software
Becoming a Sewing Machine Operator
Education needed to be a Sewing Machine Operator:
What work experience do I need to become a Sewing Machine Operator?
Where Sewing Machine Operators Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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