The average salary for a sewing machine operator in Illinois is around $36,220 per year.
Avg Salary
Sewing machine operators earn an average yearly salary of $36,220.
Wages typically start from $33,060 and go up to $46,720.
47% below national average Updated in 2025
Sewing machine operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sewing machine operator earnings begin at:
$22.46 per hour
$46,720 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sewing machine operator earnings begin at:
$20.24 per hour
$42,100 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sewing machine operator earnings begin at:
$17.41 per hour
$36,220 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sewing machine operator earnings begin at:
$16.76 per hour
$34,860 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sewing machine operator earnings begin at:
$15.90 per hour
$33,060 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sewing machine operator salary by state
| State Name | Average 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 |
| Oregon | $39,780 |
| Hawaii | $39,230 |
| South Dakota | $39,000 |
| Minnesota | $38,930 |
| Rhode Island | $38,670 |
| New York | $38,480 |
| Indiana | $38,440 |
| South Carolina | $38,250 |
| California | $37,940 |
| Connecticut | $37,780 |
| Delaware | $37,690 |
| Mississippi | $37,600 |
| Michigan | $37,490 |
| Idaho | $37,160 |
| Nebraska | $37,060 |
| Montana | $36,740 |
| Wyoming | $36,510 |
| District of Columbia | $36,350 |
| Illinois | $36,220 |
| New Jersey | $36,130 |
| Iowa | $35,870 |
| Maryland | $35,860 |
| Virginia | $35,790 |
| Ohio | $35,760 |
| North Dakota | $35,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,640 |
| Arkansas | $35,630 |
| Missouri | $35,610 |
| Utah | $35,550 |
| Kansas | $35,360 |
| North Carolina | $35,160 |
| New Mexico | $34,840 |
| Georgia | $34,790 |
| Tennessee | $34,220 |
| Oklahoma | $33,340 |
| Florida | $33,270 |
| Texas | $31,000 |
| Alabama | $30,830 |
| Louisiana | $29,600 |
| Kentucky | $29,460 |
| West Virginia | $29,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,370 |
How do sewing machine operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Sewing machine operators earn about the same as related careers in Illinois. On average, they make less than upholsterers but more than food servers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Upholsterer salary | $42K |
| Nail technician salary | $37K |
| Sewer salary | $36K |
| Hairdresser salary | $34K |
| Housekeeper salary | $36K |
| Sewing machine operator salary | $36K |
| Personal care aide salary | $38K |
| Florist salary | $36K |
| Hand polishing worker salary | $37K |
| Food server salary | $31K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)