Sewing Machine Operators Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 17,990 Sewing Machine Operators professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
17,990
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
17.99
workers
Location Quotient
7.9
vs national avg
Average Salary
$37K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 7.9 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Sewing Machine Operators professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
17,990
National: 116,100
15.5% of national
Jobs per 1,000
17.99
National: 2.28
+689.0%
Average Salary
$37K
National: $35K
+5.4%

Top States by Sewing Machine Operators Employment

#1
17,990
17,990
employed
#2
9,760
9,760
employed
#3
6,850
6,850
employed
#4
5,860
5,860
employed
#5
5,830
5,830
employed
#6
4,990
4,990
employed
#7
4,600
4,600
employed
#8
4,460
4,460
employed
#9
4,370
4,370
employed
#10
3,660
3,660
employed

What Does a Sewing Machine Operators Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Sewing Machine Operators in California is $37,430. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Sewing Machine Operators jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 17,990 Sewing Machine Operators professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Sewing Machine Operators in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Sewing Machine Operators jobs (LQ: 7.9). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Sewing Machine Operators in California?

The average (mean) salary for Sewing Machine Operators in California is $37430/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Sewing Machine Operators professionals?

The top state for Sewing Machine Operators employment is California with 17,990 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Sewing Machine Operators (SOC 516031) in California.

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