How much does a sewing machine operator make in Waterloo?
$34,310a year
Median yearly pay for sewing machine operators in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area. That is $16.50 an hour or $2,859 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.50
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 162 of 236
- Jobs in the area
- 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $22,790Median: $34,310Highest 10%: $46,220
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22,790 | $10.96 | |
| 25th | $29,350 | $14.11 | |
| Median | $34,310 | $16.50 | |
| 75th | $38,580 | $18.55 | |
| 90th | $46,220 | $22.22 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for sewing machine operators.
| Dubuque, IA | $39,120 |
| Omaha, NE | $37,380 |
| Des Moines, IA | $37,270 |
| Davenport, IA | $36,220 |
Related jobs in Waterloo
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker | $75,370 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $65,590 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator | $63,890 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $60,330 |
| Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender | $60,020 |
| Machinist | $58,100 |
| Cleaning | $56,100 |
| Molding | $55,550 |
| Foundry Mold and Coremaker | $54,920 |
| Welding | $54,470 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sewing machine operator make an hour in Waterloo?
The median hourly pay in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area is $16.50 ($34,310 a year).
Do sewing machine operators make more in Waterloo than the national average?
No: $34,310 against $36,670 nationally, 6% less.
How does Waterloo compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $35,870, so Waterloo pays 4% less.
Where does Waterloo rank for sewing machine operator pay?
162 of 236 metro areas with data.
How much does a sewing machine operator make starting out in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% make $22,790 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,220 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.