Sewing machinist | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Sewing machinists stitch pieces of material together to make clothing, accessories and soft furnishings.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Monitor machine operation to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
Guide garments

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

Average salary
19,785 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Sewing machinist

20,817 GBP
19,457 GBP

Average salary for part-time Sewing machinist

Average salary for full-time Sewing machinist

Showing:

10,757 GBP
10,098 GBP

19,785 GBP
19,457 GBP
20,817 GBP

Salary over time for Sewing machinist

Salary for this role has increased over time

16,070 GBP
16,535 GBP
16,599 GBP
17,042 GBP
18,195 GBP
19,648 GBP
19,785 GBP
19,223 GBP

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Future outlook for Sewing machinists

Very good outlook

16 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

3% yearly wage growth (on average)

Fair outlook

69% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Sewing machinist and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

32% of people in this role have a Bachelor's degree
20% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
17% of people in this role have a certificate of higher education or equivalent but no degree

A college course could teach you the skills needed for this career. Relevant courses include:

Level 1 Award in Fashion - Sewing Machine Skills
Level 1 Certificate in Textiles

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to work well with your hands
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others
the ability to work on your own
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
thinking and reasoning skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Sewing machinist

Sewing

Integrity Job requires being honest and ethical. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. Achievement/Effort Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

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Sewing machinist | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

Similar Courses

Introduction to Sewing

Sewing a Skirt in a Day

Community Learning: Simply Sewing

Textiles - Sewing Workshop - Beginners

Textiles Sewing with Organic and Sustainable Fabrics

Simply Sewing Your Next Garment

Textiles - Sewing Workshop - Beginners & Intermediate

Textiles - Sewing Workshop - Intermediate & Advanced

Textiles - NCFE Sewing Skills - Level 1 Award (NCFE)

Future outlook for Sewing machinists

Sewing machinist - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Sewing machinist interview

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