Sewing Machine Operator salary in Iowa
Sewing Machine Operators in Iowa earn a median of $35,870 a year ($17.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,270 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $36,670. Iowa ranks 30th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.38 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $36,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,890 | $13.89 |
| 25th percentile | $31,740 | $15.26 |
| Median | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| 75th percentile | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Average (mean) | $36,570 | $17.58 |
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 | $2,989.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,494.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,379.62 |
| Weekly | $689.81 |
| Hourly | $17.25 |
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 Iowa
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $31,680 | $15.23 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $32,990 | $15.86 |
| Upholsterer | $42,610 | $20.49 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $30,060 | $14.45 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $33,730 | $16.21 |
| Sewers, Hand | $42,290 | $20.33 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,920 | $23.52 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,090 | $26.49 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,740 | $24.40 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $41,740 | $20.07 |
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 Iowa?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Iowa is $35,870 a year, or $17.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Iowa?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Iowa earn at least $47,270 a year. The top 25% earn $39,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,890 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $31,740 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Iowa?
About 590 sewing machine operators are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.