Sewing Machine Operator salary in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
Sewing Machine Operators in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area earn a median of $36,220 a year ($17.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,510 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $35,870. There are 0.37 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $37,840, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,370 | $16.52 |
| Median | $36,220 | $17.41 |
| 75th percentile | $42,960 | $20.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| Average (mean) | $37,840 | $18.19 |
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 | $3,018.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,509.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,393.08 |
| Weekly | $696.54 |
| Hourly | $17.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $36,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sewing Machine Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $39,120 | 50 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $37,380 | 150 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $37,270 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,800 | 780 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,300 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,220 | 3,450 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $35,740 | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $34,310 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,060 | 70 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,060 | 80 |
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 Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $31,260 | $15.03 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,470 | $21.86 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $48,630 | $23.38 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,580 | $36.82 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $51,190 | $24.61 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Machinist | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $40,600 | $19.52 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,690 | $23.41 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $48,120 | $23.13 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,870 | $22.06 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $49,050 | $23.58 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area is $36,220 a year, or $17.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area earn at least $46,510 a year. The top 25% earn $42,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $34,370 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL?
About 70 sewing machine operators are employed in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.