Sewing Machine Operators Salary in Dubuque, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Dubuque, IA

Median annual salary $38,820 +7.8% vs national
Median hourly $18.67
10th percentile $32,790
90th percentile $45,570
Employed locally 50
National median $36,000

Compare Sewing Machine Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Dubuque, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Sewing Machine Operators
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Dubuque, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,790
    25th
    $37,900
    50th (median)
    $38,820
    75th
    $42,470
    90th
    $45,570

    Dubuque economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $75,919 2023 • Census ACS
    Sewing Machine Operators salary vs area income 51% Median Sewing Machine Operators salary is 49% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Sewing Machine Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $49,980
    Appleton, WI $48,880
    Glens Falls, NY $48,380
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $46,990
    Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $46,450
    Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,360

    Nearby metros — Sewing Machine Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Iowa City, IA $45,410
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $41,410
    North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area $41,380
    Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area $40,130
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $40,040
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $39,310

    Related occupations in Dubuque, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,790
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,820
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,070
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,510
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,270

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Sewing Machine Operators make per hour in Dubuque?

    The median hourly wage for Sewing Machine Operators in Dubuque, IA is $18.67, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.64 or more per hour.

    Is Dubuque above or below average for Sewing Machine Operators salaries?

    The median Sewing Machine Operators salary in Dubuque, IA is 7.8% above the national median of $36,000. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Sewing Machine Operators in Dubuque?

    Entry-level Sewing Machine Operators (10th percentile) earn around $32,790 per year in Dubuque, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,900.