Sewing Machine Operator salary in Appleton, WI
Sewing Machine Operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $48,460 a year ($23.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,110 for the top 10%. That is 32% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 20% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $40,370. There are 0.89 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| 25th percentile | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Median | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| 75th percentile | $65,110 | $31.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,110 | $31.31 |
| Average (mean) | $51,830 | $24.92 |
Half of sewing machine operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,038.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,019.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,863.85 |
| Weekly | $931.92 |
| Hourly | $23.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $42,300 | 1,130 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $40,130 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | $40,040 | n/a |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $39,810 | 60 |
| Wausau, WI | $39,110 | 30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,600 | 560 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $37,550 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,820 | 110 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,820 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,780 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for sewing machine operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $45,750 |
| Alaska | $43,850 |
| Colorado | $43,840 |
| Maine | $43,520 |
| Washington | $43,360 |
| Massachusetts | $42,910 |
| New Hampshire | $41,740 |
| Vermont | $40,850 |
| Wisconsin | $40,370 |
| Arizona | $40,210 |
See Sewing Machine Operator pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,430 | $17.03 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,240 | $37.14 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,930 | $24.01 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,550 | $28.63 |
| Machinist | $60,350 | $29.02 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Printing Press Operator | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,390 | $25.67 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $43,710 | $21.01 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-6031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Appleton, WI metro area is $48,460 a year, or $23.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $65,110 a year. The top 25% earn $65,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,400 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $38,230 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Appleton, WI?
About 110 sewing machine operators are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.