Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Milwaukee, WI
Sewing Machine Operators in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area earn a median $38,600 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,278 take-home, or $2,690 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Milwaukee, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,452
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,393
- Medicare (1.45%)$560
- Wisconsin income tax$917
- Take-home pay$32,278
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Milwaukee, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,660 | $13.78 | $24,718 | $2,060 |
| 25th percentile | $35,910 | $17.26 | $30,235 | $2,520 |
| Median (50th) | $38,600 | $18.56 | $32,278 | $2,690 |
| 75th percentile | $45,550 | $21.90 | $37,556 | $3,130 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,280 | $23.21 | $39,630 | $3,302 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,600 buys in Milwaukee, WI
Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 3.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 3% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $32,278 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,298 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 Milwaukee, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Milwaukee, WI ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $38,600 | $32,278 | $33,298 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 45 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Milwaukee, WI?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area is $38,600 a year, or about $18.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,910 and $45,550.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Milwaukee, WI?
On the median $38,600 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $32,278 a year ($2,690 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $917 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Milwaukee, WI a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 3.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,298 would in a typical U.S. city. Milwaukee, WI ranks #9 of 45 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Milwaukee, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Milwaukee, WI is $1,119 a month ($1,338 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Milwaukee, WI
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- Tool and Die Maker — $68,120
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $66,980
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $66,860
- Machinist — $60,320
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $59,390
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $57,780
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $54,410
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $50,020
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,480
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,180
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $49,080