Jobs Similar to Sewing Machine Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sewing machine operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Pourers and Casters and Machine Feeders and Offbearers.
Sewing Machine Operators: $36,670 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
82% similar · $50,270 (+37%) · High school
- 2Pourers and Casters, Metal
81% similar · $51,810 (+41%) · High school
- 3Machine Feeders and Offbearers
81% similar · $41,220 (+12%) · High school
- 4Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
80% similar · $46,350 (+26%) · High school · Same group
- 5Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $38,180 (+4%) · High school · Same group
- 6Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
79% similar · $39,530 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 7Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
79% similar · $53,750 (+47%) · High school
- 8Rock Splitters, Quarry
79% similar · $48,740 (+33%) · High school
- 9Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $46,460 (+27%) · High school
- 10Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
79% similar · $43,220 (+18%) · High school
- 11Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $46,170 (+26%) · High school
- 12Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
78% similar · $42,770 (+17%) · High school
- 13Tire Builders
78% similar · $57,390 (+57%) · High school
- 14Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $47,920 (+31%) · High school
- 15Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
78% similar · $48,540 (+32%) · High school
- 16Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $43,960 (+20%) · High school
- 17Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
77% similar · $38,670 (+5%) · High school · Same group
- 18Foundry Mold and Coremakers
77% similar · $48,110 (+31%) · High school
- 19Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
77% similar · $51,330 (+40%) · High school
- 20Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers
77% similar · $48,220 (+31%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sewing machine operators.
- Tire Builders78% similar · $57,390 (+57%)
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers79% similar · $53,750 (+47%)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal81% similar · $51,810 (+41%)
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters77% similar · $51,330 (+40%)
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders82% similar · $50,270 (+37%)
- Rock Splitters, Quarry79% similar · $48,740 (+33%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sewing machine operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sewing machine operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand (84)
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers (83)
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers (80)
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (80)
- Packers and Packagers, Hand (78)
- Helpers--Production Workers (76)
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing (76)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (75)
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders (74)
- Bakers (73)
Questions about jobs like sewing machine operators
What jobs are most similar to sewing machine operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (82% similar), Pourers and Casters (81% similar), Machine Feeders and Offbearers (81% similar), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (80% similar) and Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (79% similar).
Which jobs like sewing machine operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Tire Builders ($57,390, +57%; usually a high school diploma), Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers ($53,750, +47%; usually a high school diploma) and Pourers and Casters ($51,810, +41%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sewing machine operators ($36,670). Without more preparation than sewing machine operators usually need: Tire Builders, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers and Pourers and Casters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.