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Production & Manufacturing

Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Illinois

The median pay for a sewing machine operators in Illinois is $35,540/year ($17.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$36K
Median annual
$17.09/hr
Hourly rate
$31K
Entry level (10th %)
$46K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $36K get you in Illinois?

Estimated monthly take-home$2,403/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,407/mo
Rent as % of take-home58.6% (above 30% guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$37,869/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$996/mo

About sewing machine operators

U.S. employed: 4,120
Category: Production & Manufacturing

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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois

Bar chart showing Sewing Machine Operators salary percentiles in Illinois: 10th percentile $31,400, 25th percentile $34,500, median $35,540, 75th percentile $40,520, 90th percentile $45,680. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$31K25th$35KMedian$36K75th$41K90th$46K
Bar chart showing Sewing Machine Operators salary percentiles in Illinois: 10th percentile $31,400, 25th percentile $34,500, median $35,540, 75th percentile $40,520, 90th percentile $45,680. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level sewing machine operators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $36K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.

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Sewing Machine Operators salary by metro in Illinois

5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Champaign-Urbana$45K+28%120
Rockford$36K+2%100
Springfield$36K+1%30
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$36K+0%3,370
Peoria$34K-5%90

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Track sewing machine operators salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do sewing machine operators make in Illinois?

The median is $35,540 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,400, and experienced sewing machine operators can clear $45,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $36K enough to live in Illinois?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,403/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 58.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.

How far does a sewing machine operators salary go in Illinois?

Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sewing machine operators salary is worth about $37,869 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do sewing machine operators get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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