How to become a Sewing Machinist

Operates industrial sewing machines to sew and finish garments and soft furnishings, such as curtains.

Main tasks

• Reads and interprets work orders and sewing patterns
• Guides fabric and materials through industrial sewing machines, ensuring accurate stitching
• Adjusts machine settings such as tension, stitch length and speed
• Trims excess threads and removes waste
• Inspects finished products for quality and makes necessary adjustments
• Performs routine maintenance on sewing machines, such as cleaning and oiling

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Millinery (MST30316)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $55,484 a year
• About 6,000 people work in this job group now, and about 6,500 are projected by 2035. (+7.5%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Textile or Footwear Production Machine Operator
• Industrial Spray Painter
• Sandblaster
• Reinforced Plastic and Composite Production Worker
• Paper and Pulp Production Operator
• Timber and Wood Production Operator

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Sewing Machinist?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Millinery.

How much does a Sewing Machinist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $55,484 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Sewing Machinist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 8% by 2035, from about 6,000 to about 6,500 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Sewing Machinist?

Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Millinery.

Will AI change the work of a Sewing Machinist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04