How to become a sewing machinist

Official title: Sewing machinists

Also called: Machinist, Sewing hand, Sewing maid, Bag machinist, Cap machinist, Fur machinist, Net machinist, Tie machinist, Sewing matron, Coat machinist, Flag machinist, Flat machinist

Sewing machinists sew and finish garments by hand or machine, rectify faults in manufactured textile goods and repair worn and damaged garments.

Main tasks

• Operates standard and specialised machines to sew, finish and repair garments and other textile, fabric, fur and skin products
• Examines fabrics of all types to identify imperfections and determine best method of repair
• Performs hand sewing tasks in the making, trimming and finishing of fur, sheepskin, leather, upholstery, mats, carpets, umbrellas and other textile products
• Embroiders decorative designs on textiles with machine stitching
• Routinely cleans and oils machine and reports or remedies any mechanical faults

How to become one

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is received Off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs are available at levels 1 and 2.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Sewing machinist (level 2). England. Typically 15 months. Skills England standard ST0549.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £24,813 a year The middle half earn £22,699 to null.
• About 30,500 people work in this job now, and about 30,000 are projected by 2035. (-1.6%)

Related jobs

• Routine inspectors and testers
• Assemblers (electrical and electronic products)
• Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods)
• Weighers, graders and sorters
• Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters

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Questions people ask

How do I become a sewing machinist?

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is received Off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs are available at levels 1 and 2.

How much does a sewing machinist earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £24,813 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is a sewing machinist a growing career in the UK?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 30,500 people now and 30,000 later (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a sewing machinist?

Not always. 38% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Sewing machinist (level 2).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03