Sewing Machine Operator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $36,220 a year ($17.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $36,220. There are 0.76 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,210 | $16.45 |
| 25th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Median | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| 75th percentile | $43,170 | $20.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Average (mean) | $39,020 | $18.76 |
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 | $3,018.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,509.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,393.08 |
| Weekly | $696.54 |
| Hourly | $17.41 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $43,800 | 180 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $40,130 | 470 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $37,090 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,910 | 710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,800 | 780 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $36,250 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $36,220 | 70 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $35,120 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 820 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,060 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,060 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $32,930 | 440 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $32,470 | 200 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $31,200 | 40 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,740 | $17.18 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $36,980 | $17.78 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Upholsterer | $43,380 | $20.86 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,710 | $22.94 |
| Sewers, Hand | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,220 a year, or $17.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $47,100 a year. The top 25% earn $43,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,210 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $35,260 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,450 sewing machine operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.