SOC 51-6031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Sewing Machine Operators — Lafayette
Lafayette, LA · 2 metro areas compared
In Lafayette, LA the median wage is $28,640.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Lafayette, LA the median wage is $28,640. That is 21.9% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay ranges from under $22,290 at the tenth percentile to more than $36,360 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $23,670 to $29,600.
Employment stands at 110, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Baton Rouge records the highest median at $31,950. Of the 350 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 314th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,290 | −39.2% |
| 25th | $23,670 | −35.5% |
| Median (50th) | $28,640 | −21.9% |
| 75th | $29,600 | −19.3% |
| 90th | $36,360 | −0.8% |
| Mean | $28,010 | −23.6% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge | $31,950 | 130 | |
| 2 | New Orleans | $31,170 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lafayette run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $28,640 goes as far as $32,472 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,640as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$32,472US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,640 a year, 21.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $22,290 to $36,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Baton Rouge, at $31,950.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Lafayette, LA?
The median annual wage is $28,640, or $13.77 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 Lafayette, LA is 21.9% 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 Lafayette, LA earns more than $36,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $22,290 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 Baton Rouge, at $31,950 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Lafayette, LA. 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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