Sewing Machine Operators
SOC Code: 51-6031 Job Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Sewing Machine Operators. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $33,966 | $41,850 | $49,754 | $57,637 |
| Green Bay, WI | $30,971 | $39,333 | $47,694 | $56,056 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $43,264 | $46,363 | $49,442 | $52,541 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $35,734 | $41,226 | $46,738 | $52,229 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $34,570 | $40,102 | $45,656 | $51,189 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $34,570 | $40,102 | $45,656 | $51,189 |
| Anchorage, AK | $34,653 | $40,123 | $45,573 | $51,043 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $32,864 | $38,771 | $44,699 | $50,606 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $39,707 | $43,202 | $46,717 | $50,211 |
| Vallejo, CA | $35,838 | $40,144 | $44,450 | $48,755 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.8 | |
| Active Listening | 2.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 2.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.8 | |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.8 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 2.8 | |
| Time Management | 2.8 | |
| Operation and Control | 2.6 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 2.7 |
| Production and Processing | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.3 |
| Education and Training | 2.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 2.2 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.1 |
| Mechanical | 2.1 |
| Administration and Management | 2.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | 52.9% |
| High school diploma | 41.4% |
| Associate's degree | 5.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
- Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
- Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
- Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
- Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
- Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles.
- Record quantities of materials processed.
- Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word Email software Web browser software
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