Sewing Machine Operator salary in Wisconsin
Sewing Machine Operators in Wisconsin earn a median of $40,370 a year ($19.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,370 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,080 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $36,670. Wisconsin ranks 9th of 50 states for sewing machine operators pay. There are 0.81 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $41,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,860 | $14.84 |
| 25th percentile | $36,620 | $17.61 |
| Median | $40,370 | $19.41 |
| 75th percentile | $46,960 | $22.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| Average (mean) | $41,430 | $19.92 |
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 | $3,364.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,682.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,552.69 |
| Weekly | $776.35 |
| Hourly | $19.41 |
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 Wisconsin
| 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 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,700 | $17.16 |
| Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers | $44,000 | $21.15 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $35,500 | $17.07 |
| Upholsterer | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers | $41,980 | $20.18 |
| Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $39,630 | $19.05 |
| Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders | $37,970 | $18.25 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | $30,930 | $14.87 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,840 | $35.98 |
| Food Batchmaker | $48,360 | $23.25 |
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in Wisconsin is $40,370 a year, or $19.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in Wisconsin earn at least $50,080 a year. The top 25% earn $46,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,860 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $36,620 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Wisconsin?
About 2,370 sewing machine operators are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.