Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Indianapolis, IN
Sewing Machine Operators in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area earn a median $36,910 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,778 take-home, or $2,565 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Indianapolis, IN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,249
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,288
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- Indiana income tax$1,059
- Take-home pay$30,778
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.95% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Indianapolis, IN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,410 | $14.62 | $25,747 | $2,146 |
| 25th percentile | $31,760 | $15.27 | $26,792 | $2,233 |
| Median (50th) | $36,910 | $17.75 | $30,778 | $2,565 |
| 75th percentile | $44,230 | $21.26 | $36,444 | $3,037 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,390 | $22.78 | $38,889 | $3,241 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Indiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,910 buys in Indianapolis, IN
Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 4.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 11% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $30,778 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,162 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sewing Machine Operator jobs are about as common in Indianapolis, IN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Indianapolis, IN ranks #15 of 45 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hickory, NC | $46,540 | $38,227 | $43,201 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $48,190 | $40,901 | $40,813 |
| 3 | Elkhart, IN | $40,130 | $33,270 | $36,834 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,210 | $37,225 | $35,191 |
| 5 | Spartanburg, SC | $38,530 | $31,984 | $35,128 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $44,350 | $37,815 | $34,027 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $37,500 | $32,311 | $33,539 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $36,640 | $30,835 | $33,320 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $36,910 | $30,778 | $32,162 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Sewing Machine Operator salaries elsewhere in Indiana
- Elkhart, IN — $40,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Indianapolis, IN?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area is $36,910 a year, or about $17.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,760 and $44,230.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN?
On the median $36,910 salary, a single filer living in Indiana takes home about $30,778 a year ($2,565 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,059 in Indiana taxes in 2026.
Is Indianapolis, IN a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 4.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,162 would in a typical U.S. city. Indianapolis, IN ranks #15 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Indianapolis, IN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Indianapolis, IN is $1,242 a month ($1,454 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Indianapolis, IN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,080
- Tool and Die Maker — $62,040
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,020
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $58,530
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $57,890
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $55,750
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $51,070
- Machinist — $50,610
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,120
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,980
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $47,680
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,230