Sewing Machine Operators build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and time management skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (89%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 89% | $50,270 | +37% | None |
| 2 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers | 88% | $41,220 | +12% | None |
| 3 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 84% | $46,570 | +27% | None |
| 4 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand | 84% | $38,020 | +4% | None |
| 5 | Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders | 83% | $46,460 | +27% | None |
| 6 | Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood | 82% | $42,770 | +17% | None |
| 7 | Pourers and Casters, Metal | 81% | $51,810 | +41% | None |
| 8 | Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80% | $46,330 | +26% | None |
| 9 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand | 80% | $42,660 | +16% | None |
| 10 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 79% | $53,750 | +47% | None |
Compared with Sewing Machine Operators, median $36,670. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as sewing machine operators (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
89% skill match · $50,270 · +37% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Technology Design · Operations Monitoring
88% skill match · $41,220 · +12% pay
Operations Monitoring · Troubleshooting · Service Orientation
84% skill match · $46,570 · +27% pay
Operation and Control · Operations Monitoring · Equipment Selection
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (89% skill match, median $50,270), Machine Feeders and Offbearers (88% skill match, median $41,220) and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (84% skill match, median $46,570), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 25 pay more than sewing machine operators at the median. The biggest increases: Tire Builders (+57%, $57,390), Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (+47%, $53,750) and Pourers and Casters, Metal (+41%, $51,810).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.