Sewing Machine Operators

What do they do?

Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.

What kind of training is available in North Dakota?

The there are no official post-secondary training opportunities for this occupation from the public North Dakota University System.

Job Openings in North Dakota by Year

What does the North Dakota market look like for this occupation?

$39,110.00
Median Salary (2024)
Higher than 13% of ND Occupations
$18.81
Median Hourly (2024)
Higher than 13% of ND Occupations
0.84%
Short Term Yearly Change (2026)
Higher than 48% of ND Occupations
0.12%
Long Term Yearly Change (2033)
Higher than 26% of ND Occupations

What are some of the daily tasks?

  • Attach buttons, hooks, zippers, fasteners, or other accessories to fabric, using feeding hoppers or clamp holders.
  • Attach tape, trim, appliques, or elastic to specified garments or garment parts, according to item specifications.
  • Baste edges of material to align and temporarily secure parts for final assembly.
  • Cut excess material or thread from finished products.
  • Cut materials according to specifications, using blades, scissors, or electric knives.
  • Draw markings or pin appliques on fabric to obtain variations in design.
  • Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using rulers.
  • Fold or stretch edges or lengths of items while sewing to facilitate forming specified sections.
  • Guide garments or garment parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
  • Inspect garments, and examine repair tags and markings on garments to locate defects or damage, and mark errors as necessary.
  • Match cloth pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
  • Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
  • Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.
  • Perform equipment maintenance tasks such as replacing needles, sanding rough areas of needles, or cleaning and oiling sewing machines.
  • Perform specialized or automatic sewing machine functions, such as buttonhole making or tacking.
  • Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
  • Position and mark patterns on materials to prepare for sewing.
  • Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
  • Position material or articles in clamps, templates, or hoop frames prior to automatic operation of machines.
  • Record quantities of materials processed.
  • Remove holding devices and finished items from machines.
  • Repair or alter items by adding replacement parts or missing stitches.
  • Select supplies such as fasteners and thread, according to job requirements.
  • Start and operate or tend machines, such as single or double needle serging and flat-bed felling machines, to automatically join, reinforce, or decorate material or articles.
  • Tape or twist together thread or cord to repair breaks.
  • Turn knobs, screws, and dials to adjust settings of machines, according to garment styles and equipment performance.

What work experience does someone ususally need?

None

What is the typical on-the-job training?

Short-term on-the-job training

What is the entry level education?

No formal educational credential