Sewing Machine Operator salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $32,930 a year ($15.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $24,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,120 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $36,670. Pay here is 12% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $29,460. There are 0.65 sewing machine operators per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $33,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sewing machine operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,590 | $11.82 |
| 25th percentile | $27,320 | $13.13 |
| Median | $32,930 | $15.83 |
| 75th percentile | $36,530 | $17.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,120 | $20.73 |
| Average (mean) | $33,260 | $15.99 |
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 | $2,744.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,372.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,266.54 |
| Weekly | $633.27 |
| Hourly | $15.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,930 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $43,800 | 180 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $40,130 | 470 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $37,090 | 220 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,910 | 710 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $36,250 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,220 | 3,450 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $36,170 | 300 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $35,120 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,680 | 820 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $32,690 | 50 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $32,470 | 200 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $32,230 | 50 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $31,200 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $29,210 | 30 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $26,260 | 100 |
| Owensboro, KY | $25,980 | 150 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,240 | $14.54 |
| Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials | $31,500 | $15.14 |
| Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers | $34,390 | $16.54 |
| Upholsterer | $45,090 | $21.68 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,010 | $36.06 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| Printing Press Operator | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| Food Batchmaker | $46,540 | $22.38 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,510 | $20.44 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for sewing machine operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $32,930 a year, or $15.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $24,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sewing machine operators make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of sewing machine operators in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $43,120 a year. The top 25% earn $36,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for sewing machine operators in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $24,590 a year, and a quarter of sewing machine operators earn $27,320 or less.
How many sewing machine operators work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 440 sewing machine operators are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.