Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Rockford
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,960 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Rockford earn between $31,200 and $40,000.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $34KMedian
- $40K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,050 | $3,004 | $17.33 |
| Median | $34,060 | $2,838 | $16.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Rockford vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Rockford earn 7% less than the Illinois average ($38,600) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $36,050 | $34,060 | $31,200 | $43,960 | 70 |
| 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 Rockford
On the average salary of $36,050, a single filer in Rockford takes home about $29,503 a year, or $2,459 a month and $1,135 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Rockford a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rockford area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $36,050 buys what about $39,119 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rockford ($47,120). A typical home costs $221,368, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Rockford ranks 2nd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($39,020).
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
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Sewing Machine Operators salary in Rockford: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Rockford?
$17.33 an hour on average, and $16.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Rockford?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Rockford?
About $29,503 a year ($2,459 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,050.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Rockford than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Rockford, IL (40420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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