Sewing Machine Operator salary in Dubuque, IA
Sewing Machine Operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn a median of $39,120 a year ($18.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 9% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $35,870. There are 0.85 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Dubuque, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| 25th percentile | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Median | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 75th percentile | $40,470 | $19.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Average (mean) | $39,820 | $19.14 |
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 | $3,260 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,630 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,504.62 |
| Weekly | $752.31 |
| Hourly | $18.81 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,740 | 40 |
| 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 Dubuque, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $32,770 | $15.75 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $50,320 | $24.19 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,130 | $37.08 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,800 | $23.94 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,770 | $22.49 |
| Machinist | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,750 | $23.44 |
| Baker | $41,160 | $19.79 |
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 Dubuque, IA?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area is $39,120 a year, or $18.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Dubuque, IA?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Dubuque, IA metro area earn at least $47,100 a year. The top 25% earn $40,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Dubuque, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,510 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $35,760 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Dubuque, IA?
About 50 sewing machine operators are employed in the Dubuque, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.