Sewing Machine Operator salary in Wausau, WI
Sewing Machine Operators in the Wausau, WI metro area earn a median of $39,110 a year ($18.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,810 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 3% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $40,370. There are 0.46 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $38,460, close to the median.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Wausau, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,330 | $15.06 |
| 25th percentile | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| Median | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 75th percentile | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,810 | $22.03 |
| Average (mean) | $38,460 | $18.49 |
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 | $3,259.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,629.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,504.23 |
| Weekly | $752.12 |
| Hourly | $18.80 |
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 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $38,600 | 560 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $37,550 | 50 |
| Green Bay, WI | $36,820 | 110 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $36,820 | 60 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $36,780 | 160 |
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 Wausau, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $34,040 | $16.37 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,790 | $35.48 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $55,780 | $26.82 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,250 | $24.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $46,030 | $22.13 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $61,070 | $29.36 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| Machinist | $53,680 | $25.81 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $43,640 | $20.98 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $45,100 | $21.69 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $57,330 | $27.56 |
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 Wausau, WI?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Wausau, WI metro area is $39,110 a year, or $18.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Wausau, WI?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Wausau, WI metro area earn at least $45,810 a year. The top 25% earn $41,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Wausau, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,330 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $33,960 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Wausau, WI?
About 30 sewing machine operators are employed in the Wausau, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.