Skip navigation

Sewing Machine Operators

Also called: Sewing Machine Operator, Sample Maker, Sewer, Seamstress

What they do:
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Business
  • management

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands
Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Technology

Examples of the technology used in this career will be available soon.

Education

Education: (rated 1 of 5)
some high school or
high school diploma
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$21,120
per year, on average
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about sewing machine operators.