Sewing Machine Operator salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Sewing Machine Operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $36,820 a year ($17.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,500 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 9% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $40,370. There are 0.73 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $37,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,610 | $14.24 |
| 25th percentile | $30,980 | $14.89 |
| Median | $36,820 | $17.70 |
| 75th percentile | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| Average (mean) | $37,790 | $18.17 |
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 | $3,068.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,534.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,416.15 |
| Weekly | $708.08 |
| Hourly | $17.70 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | $48,460 | 110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $42,300 | 1,130 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $40,130 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | $40,040 | n/a |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $39,810 | 60 |
| Wausau, WI | $39,110 | 30 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $38,610 | 70 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,600 | 560 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $37,550 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,820 | 110 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,780 | 160 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $35,730 | 70 |
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 Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,110 | $34.19 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,890 | $22.06 |
| Printing Press Operator | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,800 | $28.27 |
| Baker | $40,000 | $19.23 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Machinist | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,910 | $19.19 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $36,820 a year, or $17.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $46,500 a year. The top 25% earn $44,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,610 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $30,980 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 60 sewing machine operators are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.