Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,510 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Detroit earn between $34,800 and $45,140.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,560 | $3,297 | $19.02 |
| Median | $38,130 | $3,178 | $18.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,800 | $2,900 | $16.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Detroit
On the average salary of $39,560, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $31,721 a year, or $2,643 a month and $1,220 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $39,560 buys what about $39,442 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 3rd of 7 Michigan metro areas for this job; Traverse City pays the most ($41,720).
- Traverse City$41,720
- Grand Rapids$40,060
- Detroit$39,560
- Ann Arbor$39,250
- Flint$37,720
- Kalamazoo$36,320
- Saginaw$34,140
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 Detroit: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Detroit?
$19.02 an hour on average, and $18.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Detroit?
About $31,721 a year ($2,643 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,560. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($37,562).
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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.