Sewing Machine Operators pay range in South Bend
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,380 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in South Bend earn between $32,470 and $37,050.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $32KMedian
- $37K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,630 | $2,969 | $17.13 |
| Median | $32,470 | $2,706 | $15.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,470 | $2,706 | $15.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,050 | $3,088 | $17.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in South Bend vs. Indiana and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in South Bend earn 11% less than the Indiana average ($39,900) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend | $35,630 | $32,470 | $30,920 | $44,380 | 200 |
| Indiana | $39,900 | $38,440 | $30,060 | $51,180 | 3,400 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in South Bend
On the average salary of $35,630, a single filer in South Bend takes home about $29,164 a year, or $2,430 a month and $1,122 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MI | $29,541 | $2,462 |
| Working in IN | $29,164 | $2,430 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Is South Bend a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the South Bend area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $35,630 buys what about $38,370 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in South Bend ($46,540). A typical home costs $238,866, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in other Indiana cities
South Bend ranks 6th of 8 Indiana metro areas for this job; Evansville pays the most ($41,240).
- Evansville$41,240
- Elkhart$41,160
- Fort Wayne$38,960
- Indianapolis$38,070
- Lafayette$36,410
- South Bend$35,630
- Terre Haute$34,270
- Michigan City$32,310
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
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Sewing Machine Operators salary in South Bend: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in South Bend?
$17.13 an hour on average, and $15.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in South Bend?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in South Bend?
About $29,164 a year ($2,430 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,630. Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
Do sewing machine operators earn more in South Bend than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI (43780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes South Bend's local income tax (1.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.28, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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