Sewing Machine Operator Salary in Chicago, IL
Sewing Machine Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $36,220 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,635 take-home, or $2,470 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sewing machine operator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,166
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,246
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Illinois income tax$1,648
- Take-home pay$29,635
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Sewing Machine Operator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,210 | $16.45 | $28,119 | $2,343 |
| 25th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 | $28,911 | $2,409 |
| Median (50th) | $36,220 | $17.41 | $29,635 | $2,470 |
| 75th percentile | $43,170 | $20.75 | $34,875 | $2,906 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,100 | $22.64 | $37,838 | $3,153 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,220 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median sewing machine operator's $29,635 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,606 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for sewing machine operators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $35,260 | $30,511 | $29,597 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $36,220 | $29,635 | $28,606 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $37,780 | $31,093 | $27,623 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,130 | $31,057 | $27,347 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $30,620 | $26,783 | $23,462 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: sewing machine operators
Operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -15.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make in Chicago, IL?
The median sewing machine operator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,220 a year, or about $17.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,260 and $43,170.
What is a sewing machine operator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $36,220 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,635 a year ($2,470 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,648 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a sewing machine operator?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $36,670. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,606 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sewing machine operator afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 62% of a median sewing machine operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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