Sewing Machine Operator salary in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
Sewing Machine Operators in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn a median of $32,470 a year ($15.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,380 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 16% lower than the Indiana statewide median of $38,440. There are 1.5 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,920 | $14.86 |
| 25th percentile | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| Median | $32,470 | $15.61 |
| 75th percentile | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| Average (mean) | $35,630 | $17.13 |
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 | $2,705.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,352.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,248.85 |
| Weekly | $624.42 |
| Hourly | $15.61 |
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 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $38,480 | 480 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $38,130 | 1,150 |
| Flint, MI | $38,130 | 40 |
| Traverse City, MI | $37,900 | 130 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $37,350 | 70 |
| 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 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $34,960 | n/a |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 820 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $32,930 | 440 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $31,200 | 40 |
| Saginaw, MI | $30,360 | 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,140 | $14.01 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $27,300 | $13.13 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $38,700 | $18.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $67,340 | $32.38 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| Machinist | $51,990 | $24.99 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,270 | $23.21 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,870 | $23.01 |
| Baker | $36,410 | $17.50 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,050 | $20.22 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI
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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area is $32,470 a year, or $15.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area earn at least $44,380 a year. The top 25% earn $37,050 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,920 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $32,470 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI?
About 200 sewing machine operators are employed in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.