Sewing Machine Operator salary in Indiana
Sewing Machine Operators in Indiana earn a median of $38,440 a year ($18.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,180 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $36,670. Indiana ranks 17th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 1.1 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| 25th percentile | $33,420 | $16.07 |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 75th percentile | $45,290 | $21.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,180 | $24.60 |
| Average (mean) | $39,900 | $19.18 |
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 | $3,203.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,601.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,478.46 |
| Weekly | $739.23 |
| Hourly | $18.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in cities in Indiana
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,930 | $14.87 |
| Upholsterer | $45,080 | $21.67 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $28,840 | $13.87 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $57,200 | $27.50 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $36,450 | $17.52 |
| Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $40,630 | $19.53 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $43,340 | $20.84 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $41,740 | $20.07 |
| Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| Sewers, Hand | $34,410 | $16.54 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,950 | $35.55 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Indiana is $38,440 a year, or $18.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Indiana?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Indiana earn at least $51,180 a year. The top 25% earn $45,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,060 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $33,420 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Indiana?
About 3,400 sewing machine operators are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.