Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,100 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Chicago earn between $35,260 and $43,170.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $36KMedian
- $43K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,020 | $3,252 | $18.76 |
| Median | $36,220 | $3,018 | $17.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,260 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,170 | $3,598 | $20.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($38,600) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $39,020 | $36,220 | $34,210 | $47,100 | 3,450 |
| Illinois | $38,600 | $36,220 | $33,060 | $46,720 | 4,060 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $39,020, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $31,742 a year, or $2,645 a month and $1,221 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $32,392 | $2,699 |
| Working in IL | $31,742 | $2,645 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $39,020 buys what about $37,666 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Sewing Machine Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Chicago?
$18.76 an hour on average, and $17.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $31,742 a year ($2,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,020.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.