Sewing Machine Operator salary in Cedar Rapids, IA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn a median of $35,740 a year ($17.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,780 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the Iowa statewide median of $35,870. There are 0.29 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $35,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,680 | $14.75 |
| 25th percentile | $33,440 | $16.08 |
| Median | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| 75th percentile | $38,910 | $18.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Average (mean) | $35,820 | $17.22 |
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 | $2,978.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,489.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,374.62 |
| Weekly | $687.31 |
| Hourly | $17.18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $39,120 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,380 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,270 | 80 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,300 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,220 | 70 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $34,310 | 60 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,220 | $16.45 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $72,640 | $34.92 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,750 | $27.28 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $53,940 | $25.93 |
| Food Batchmaker | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $64,670 | $31.09 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $83,470 | $40.13 |
| Printing Press Operator | $42,970 | $20.66 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Cedar Rapids, IA
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 Cedar Rapids, IA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area is $35,740 a year, or $17.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $40,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Cedar Rapids, IA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area earn at least $40,780 a year. The top 25% earn $38,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,680 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $33,440 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Cedar Rapids, IA?
About 40 sewing machine operators are employed in the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.