Sewing Machine Operator salary in Fort Wayne, IN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area earn a median of $37,090 a year ($17.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,800 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 4% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $38,440. There are 0.97 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Fort Wayne, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| 25th percentile | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| Median | $37,090 | $17.83 |
| 75th percentile | $44,020 | $21.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,800 | $22.98 |
| Average (mean) | $38,960 | $18.73 |
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 | $3,090.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,545.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,426.54 |
| Weekly | $713.27 |
| Hourly | $17.83 |
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 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,910 | 710 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $36,250 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,220 | 3,450 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $35,120 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 820 |
| 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 Indiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Fort Wayne, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,930 | $14.39 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,470 | $31.48 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,060 | $19.74 |
| Machinist | $53,770 | $25.85 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,430 | $23.29 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,300 | $23.70 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $56,970 | $27.39 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Tire Builder | $51,170 | $24.60 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,420 | $22.32 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Fort Wayne, 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 Fort Wayne, IN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area is $37,090 a year, or $17.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Fort Wayne, IN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area earn at least $47,800 a year. The top 25% earn $44,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Fort Wayne, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,950 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,200 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Fort Wayne, IN?
About 220 sewing machine operators are employed in the Fort Wayne, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.