A sewing machinist, also known as a sewing machine operator, is responsible for using an industrial sewing machine to sew together pieces of cloth to make clothing or other items, edging cloth, attaching fabric accessories such as buttons or zippers, and completing garment alterations. A sewing machinist’s work may include all of the steps required to produce a garment, or it may consist of repeatedly performing one or two steps in an assembly line’s mass production process, depending on her place of employment or specialization. While a sewing machinist’s primary responsibility is sewing, she may also be responsible for general sewing machine maintenance, such as oiling parts or sharpening needles. In order to complete work assignments, other responsibilities include changing thread types and colors, bobbins, and other machine attachments.
Sewing machinists make up the largest group of workers in the textile industry. The majority of employees in this position work in a factory or industrial setting, in conditions that vary depending on the size, age, and philosophy of the factory’s owners. Although some vocational schools teach students these skills and provide certifications, most training takes place on the job, with a more experienced machinist showing a new employee how to perform the job. Employers prefer and frequently seek experienced sewing machinists, but newcomers to the field will be considered. Wages are often based on production and are lower than average.
Department stores, dry cleaners, and tailoring shops all have a few sewing machinist positions available. Department stores occasionally provide hemming and minor alterations for new clothing purchases. Along with the usual cleaning services, dry cleaners frequently provide hemming, alterations, and repair services. Tailors, some dress shops, and high-end fashion houses are the only places where a sewing machinist can complete a garment from beginning to end. These are the most highly compensated job openings due to their scarcity.
Sewing machinist jobs are disappearing in the developed world due to industry outsourcing to lower-cost labor forces in developing countries. When compared to other jobs, the decline in overall job openings in the United States is expected to continue at a much faster rate. The majority of new job openings will be the result of current employees approaching retirement. California, as well as the southern states of Mississippi, North Carolina, Alabama, and Kentucky, have the highest concentration of sewing machinist jobs in the United States. Alaska, Nevada, and Connecticut have the highest paying sewing machinist jobs in the United States.