SOC 51-6031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Sewing Machine Operators — Wilmington
Wilmington, NC · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Wilmington, NC is $28,510 a year, trailing the national median of $36,670 by 22.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Wilmington, NC is $28,510 a year, trailing the national median of $36,670 by 22.3%. Half of workers earn between $28,510 and $38,310. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $27,330 and the ninetieth at $43,750.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.85 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. 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 407th of 413 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,330 | −25.5% |
| 25th | $28,510 | −22.3% |
| Median (50th) | $28,510 | −22.3% |
| 75th | $38,310 | +4.5% |
| 90th | $43,750 | +19.3% |
| Mean | $32,910 | −10.3% |
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 | Durham | $34,850 | 320 | |
| 5 | Greensboro | $32,470 | 1,460 | |
| 6 | Raleigh | $30,960 | 340 | |
| 7 | Winston-Salem | $30,150 | 450 | |
| 8 | Fayetteville | $29,640 | 150 | |
| 9 | Burlington | $29,570 | 180 | |
| 10 | Greenville | $29,280 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wilmington run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $28,510 goes as far as $30,233 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 17.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$28,510as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$30,233US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $28,510 a year, 22.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $27,330 to $43,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 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 Wilmington, NC?
The median annual wage is $28,510, or $13.71 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 Wilmington, NC is 22.3% 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 Wilmington, NC earns more than $43,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $27,330 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 110 jobs in this occupation in Wilmington, 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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