What This Job Is
A sewing operator (缝纫工) runs industrial sewing machines to assemble fabric pieces into finished textile products — bedding, curtains, upholstery, garments. It's the most common production role in textile manufacturing, with hundreds of thousands of positions across China's production hubs.
What You'll Do Each Day
- Operate industrial sewing machines (lockstitch, overlock, flatlock) to join fabric panels
- Follow production specifications and sewing sequences from tech packs
- Inspect your own output for stitch quality, alignment, and thread tension
- Change needles, thread bobbins, and adjust machine settings between runs
- Meet daily output targets (typically 80-150 pieces depending on product complexity)
- Report machine malfunctions to the maintenance team
- Keep your workstation clean and organized between shifts
A typical day starts at 7:30 or 8:00 AM. You'll work at your assigned machine for the full shift with two meal breaks. Most factories run 8-hour shifts, 6 days per week.
Skills & Requirements
Self-assessment: check the skills you have
0/7Education: No formal education required. Most factories provide 1-2 weeks of on-the-job training for beginners. Some vocational schools (职业技术学校) offer textile manufacturing programs that give you a head start.
Physical requirements: Sitting for extended periods, good hand-eye coordination, ability to work in a factory environment with moderate noise levels.
Salary Data
| Region | Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangdong (广东) | ¥4,500–5,500 | ¥5,500–7,000 | ¥7,000–10,000 |
| Zhejiang (浙江) | ¥4,000–5,000 | ¥5,000–6,500 | ¥6,500–9,000 |
| Jiangsu (江苏) | ¥4,000–5,000 | ¥5,000–6,500 | ¥6,500–8,500 |
| Shandong (山东) | ¥3,500–4,500 | ¥4,500–6,000 | ¥6,000–8,000 |
| Bangladesh | ৳8,000–12,000 | ৳12,000–18,000 | ৳18,000–25,000 |
Note: Many factories include housing (宿舍) and meals (食堂) in the compensation package. Housing deductions are typically ¥200-400/month. Overtime pay is common and can add 20-40% to base salary.
Career Progression
Trainee Operator
学徒工0–6 months
Learning machine operation, practicing on simple pieces
Junior Operator
初级缝纫工6 months–2 years
Working independently on standard production lines
Senior Operator
高级缝纫工2–5 years
Handling complex products, higher output targets
Multi-Skill Operator
多能工3–5 years
Operating multiple machine types, filling any station
Line Leader
组长4–7 years
Supervising 8-15 operators, managing line output and quality
Line Supervisor
车间主管6–10 years
Managing multiple lines, production planning, reporting to factory manager
Work Environment
Setting: Factory floor (车间). Expect moderate noise from sewing machines, air conditioning in most modern factories, fluorescent lighting.
Day Shift (白班)
7:30 AM – 5:30 PMLunch 11:30–12:30, Afternoon 3:00–3:15
Overtime (加班)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PMDinner 5:30–6:00
Overtime is optional but common during peak season (March–June, September–November). Most operators work 5.5–6 days per week.
What factories typically provide:
- Dormitory housing (4-8 person rooms, shared bathroom)
- Cafeteria meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Social insurance (五险) in larger factories
- Annual bonus (年终奖), typically 1 month's salary
- Free work uniforms
How to Get Started
- No experience? Look for "学徒工" (trainee) positions — many factories hire and train from scratch
- Have some experience? Bring references from previous factories, even informal ones
- Want higher pay? Learn multiple machine types (overlock + flatlock + lockstitch) to become a 多能工
- In a rural area? Contact labor agencies (劳务公司) that arrange factory placements including transport
- Browse sewing operator jobs on TexHire filtered by your location and shift preference
Browse open positions for this role on TexHire
View sewing jobs