Sewers, Hand Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for sewers, hand in the U.S. is $36,480 ($17.54 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $36,480
- Mean annual wage
- $37,210
- Median hourly wage
- $17.54
- Employment
- 2,190
2,190 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,680 | $13.31 |
| 25th percentile | $33,330 | $16.03 |
| Median (50th) | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| 75th percentile | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| 90th percentile | $47,570 | $22.87 |
Highest-paying states for sewers, hand
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $47,600 | — |
| Washington | $45,170 | — |
| California | $42,420 | 110 |
| Iowa | $42,290 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $39,690 | — |
| Nevada | $39,440 | — |
| Massachusetts | $38,680 | 40 |
| Florida | $38,480 | 140 |
| Georgia | $38,210 | 120 |
| New York | $37,380 | 120 |
Lowest-paying states
- Louisiana: $27,040 median annual wage
- Texas: $29,320 median annual wage
- Indiana: $34,410 median annual wage
- Pennsylvania: $35,560 median annual wage
- New Jersey: $36,400 median annual wage
About this occupation
Sew, join, reinforce, or finish, usually with needle and thread, a variety of manufactured items. Includes weavers and stitchers.
Typical tasks
- Draw and cut patterns according to specifications.
- Trim excess threads or edges of parts, using scissors or knives.
- Use different sewing techniques such as felling, tacking, basting, embroidery, and fagoting.
- Smooth seams with heated irons, flat bones, or rubbing sticks.
- Select thread, twine, cord, or yarn to be used, and thread needles.
- Fit garments on clients, altering as needed.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 19.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 28.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 18.5% |
| Associate's degree | 10.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.6% |
| Master's degree | 5.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.8% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.