How to hire a sewing machine operator

How to hire a sewing machine operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sewing machine operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sewing machine operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sewing machine operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sewing machine operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The sewing machine operator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sewing machine operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sewing machine operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of sewing machine operators.

   Type of Sewing Machine Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Sewing Machine Operator		$11-18
   Seamstress	A seamstress designs, repairs, and alters clothing as well as fashion accessories like hats and purses. Your duties and responsibilities may vary depending on your employer, including taking a customer's body measurements to fit clothes to their specifications, constructing garments specified by the customer, and advising customers on the appropriate types of patterns and fabrics that meet their needs... Show more	$10-24
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stitching
   • Industrial Sewing Machines
   • Single Needle
   • Machine Operation
   • Safety Rules
   • Machine Malfunctions
   • Quality Standards
   • Oiling
   • Spindles
   • Embroidery
   • Safety Procedures
   • Serger
   • Machine Guides
   • Assembly Line

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Observe sewing machine operation to detect defects in stitching and machine malfunction and notify supervisor.
   • Set up programs and operate Tajima embroidery machine and create eye catching looks for ladies and gentlemen's garments
   • Experience with Tajima 1 , 6 and 8 head machines.
   • Secure spools of thread on spindles.
   • Sew binding on government issue t-shirts.
   • Add stoning to gowns or costumes.

   More sewing machine operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sewing machine operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A sewing machine operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, sewing machine operators' average salary in alabama is 38% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sewing machine operators earn 38% less than senior-level sewing machine operators.
   • Certifications. A sewing machine operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a sewing machine operator's salary.

   Average sewing machine operator salary

   $15.05hourly

   $31,312 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level sewing machine operator salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average sewing machine operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Minnesota	$38,457	$18
   2	Utah	$34,842	$17
   3	California	$32,951	$16
   4	Wisconsin	$32,949	$16
   5	New Jersey	$32,529	$16
   6	Ohio	$31,843	$15
   7	Arizona	$31,628	$15
   8	Pennsylvania	$31,441	$15
   9	Michigan	$30,902	$15
   10	North Carolina	$30,237	$15
   11	South Carolina	$29,671	$14
   12	Tennessee	$29,383	$14
   13	Georgia	$29,058	$14
   14	Texas	$28,722	$14
   15	Florida	$26,902	$13
   16	Alabama	$25,466	$12
   17	Kentucky	$25,356	$12

   Average sewing machine operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Gasser Chair	$44,178	$21.24	1
   2	ARA	$43,110	$20.73	2
   3	Textron	$40,698	$19.57	42
   4	Pacific Medical	$40,143	$19.30
   5	ZF Group	$37,756	$18.15	2
   6	Fruit of the Loom	$37,043	$17.81	1
   7	Tempur Sealy International	$36,991	$17.78	3
   8	GPAC	$36,570	$17.58
   9	Volt Systems LLC	$34,717	$16.69
   10	New Era Cap	$33,917	$16.31	1
   11	BlueForce Inc.	$32,820	$15.78
   12	American Leather	$32,627	$15.69	1
   13	Williams Sonoma	$32,478	$15.61	5
   14	Sheridan	$32,326	$15.54
   15	American Furniture Manufacturing	$32,138	$15.45
   16	Hunter	$32,069	$15.42	1
   17	Snelling	$31,650	$15.22	9
   18	Bass Pro Shops	$31,488	$15.14	3
   19	A. Rifkin Co.	$31,437	$15.11
   20	Kelly Services	$31,416	$15.10	143

4. Writing a sewing machine operator job description

   A job description for a sewing machine operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a sewing machine operator job description:

   Sewing machine operator job description example

   Job DescriptionSewing machine operators operate and tend sewing machines in order to perform garment sewing operations. This includes joining, reinforcing and decorating garments or parts of garments. Sewing machine operators handle work on a large scale as they are required to operate and tend to industrial machineries. They mount attachments such as needles and pattern blades and adjust machines according to the specifications provided to them.
   
   Sewing machine operators also adjust machine controls and regulate stitching speeds for every sewing project that they work on. It is important for sewing machine operators to possess in depth knowledge of sewing machinery and the garments industry. They also need to have sound hand-eye coordination and be able to cope with moderate physical effort
   * Refer to orders for sewing garments and select appropriate materials
   * Ensure that all materials and auxiliary supplies are available prior to beginning work
   * Start sewing machinery at the beginning of a shift and test it for proper functionality
   * Address any discrepancies or problems faced during the testing period
   * Draw threads through needles and adjust machine functions to meet the requirements of the sewing project
   * Position materials under needles to sew them together or make patterns
   * Replace and rethread needles for a subsequent project or in case of the existing one needing more thread
   * Sew missing stitches or replacement parts in accordance to repair instructions provided
   * Observe operations to detect any faults or defects in stitching
   * Notify supervisors of any problems or discrepancies during the sewing process
   * Attach button, grips, hooks and fasteners to finished garments
   * Attach elastic or tape to garments as specified in the work order
   * Ensure that the finished product conforms to the design and merchandizing instructions provided in the work order
   * Ensure that excess material or threads are cut away from the finished product
   * Trim finished garments using scissors and cutters
   * Perform general and preventative maintenance tasks on sewing machines to ensure their longevity
   * Examine finished garments for compliance and ensure that appropriate tags are sewed on them
   * Count number of garments stitched during a shift and record this information in company provided logs
   
   Able to read a tape measure and fractions.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right sewing machine operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with sewing machine operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit sewing machine operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sewing machine operator job on Zippia to find and recruit sewing machine operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit sewing machine operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sewing machine operator

   Once you've found the sewing machine operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a sewing machine operator?