Sewing Machine Operator salary in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn a median of $35,120 a year ($16.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,070 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 9% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $38,440. There are 0.79 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,130 | $14.49 |
| 25th percentile | $30,910 | $14.86 |
| Median | $35,120 | $16.89 |
| 75th percentile | $43,070 | $20.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,070 | $20.71 |
| Average (mean) | $36,410 | $17.50 |
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 | $2,926.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,463.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,350.77 |
| Weekly | $675.38 |
| Hourly | $16.89 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $63,140 | $30.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,770 | $35.95 |
| Machinist | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,710 | $25.34 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| Food Batchmaker | $60,680 | $29.18 |
| Baker | $33,830 | $16.26 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $54,720 | $26.31 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette-West Lafayette, 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area is $35,120 a year, or $16.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,070 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area earn at least $43,070 a year. The top 25% earn $43,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,130 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $30,910 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 80 sewing machine operators are employed in the Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.