SOC 51-6031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Sewing Machine Operators — Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $34,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $36,670.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $34,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $36,670. Half of workers earn between $29,120 and $37,980. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,130 and the ninetieth at $44,250.
The area has 320 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Hickory leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,540. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 424th of 453 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,130 | −23.3% |
| 25th | $29,120 | −20.6% |
| Median (50th) | $34,850 | −5.0% |
| 75th | $37,980 | +3.6% |
| 90th | $44,250 | +20.7% |
| Mean | $35,420 | −3.4% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory | $46,540 | 1,860 | |
| 2 | Asheville | $37,210 | 320 | |
| 3 | Charlotte | $34,940 | 1,640 | |
| 4 | Greensboro | $32,470 | 1,460 | |
| 5 | Raleigh | $30,960 | 340 | |
| 6 | Winston-Salem | $30,150 | 450 | |
| 7 | Fayetteville | $29,640 | 150 | |
| 8 | Burlington | $29,570 | 180 | |
| 9 | Greenville | $29,280 | 70 | |
| 10 | Rocky Mount | $29,230 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Durham run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $34,850 goes as far as $36,957 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$34,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,957US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $34,850 a year, 5.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,130 to $44,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 320 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hickory, at $46,540.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Durham, NC?
The median annual wage is $34,850, or $16.76 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $36,670, so pay in Durham, NC is 5.0% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Durham, NC earns more than $44,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,130 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Hickory, at $46,540 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 320 jobs in this occupation in Durham, NC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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