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Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $39,530 Median per year · $19.01/hr Most earn $29,960–$49,130

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
  • Adjust machine heating mechanisms, tensions, and speeds to produce specified products.
  • Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
  • Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
  • Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
  • Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.

Job outlook

United States
14% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Textile mills56.2%
  • Textile product mills20.0%
  • Apparel manufacturing10.7%
  • Self-employed (their own business)5.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 3 to 6 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 3 to 6 monthsEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. You can usually start with a high school diploma and learn the machines on the job, typically over about 3 to 6 months of related work experience.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong math and hands-on technical classes, since machine setup involves measuring, reading specs, and basic mechanics.

  2. Textile Machine Operator (entry-level trainee)

    3-6 months

    Start as a trainee or helper on textile production floors, where you learn to load materials, watch machines, spot problems, and follow safety rules under an experienced worker.

  3. Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter, Operator, or Tender

    Ongoing

    Once you can run and monitor the machines reliably, you set up knitting or weaving machines, adjust them for each product, and keep production running.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Textile Machine Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You train newer workers, check quality on the line, and handle more complicated setups, which shows you can be trusted with more responsibility.

  2. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a team of machine operators, plan shifts and output, and make sure work meets quality and safety standards. It usually takes strong communication skills and a good record on the floor.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and shop or technical coursesMeasuring, reading diagrams, and basic mechanics are used every day when setting up and adjusting machines.
  • Join a sewing, fashion, or design clubWorking with fabric and understanding how yarn and cloth behave gives you a head start on how textile machines work.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny job at a factory, warehouse, or production line teaches you to follow procedures, work with equipment, and keep a steady pace.
  • Learn basic computer skillsMany modern textile machines are controlled by computer screens, so comfort with simple digital tools helps.
  • Volunteer with a community workshop or makerspaceHands-on repair and building projects build confidence with tools and equipment.

In college

  • Take courses in manufacturing, textiles, or fiber scienceIf your school offers these, they explain how fibers are made into yarn and fabric, which is the core of this work.
  • Take a workplace safety courseKnowing machine guarding and safe operating practices is valuable on any production floor and shows employers you take safety seriously.
  • Seek a summer internship or co-op at a manufacturing plantSeeing how a real production line runs gives you practical experience and a chance to make contacts in the industry.
  • Get a campus job with equipment or maintenanceWork in a campus print shop, lab, or facilities team builds skills in running and caring for machines.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a shop, science, or family and consumer sciences teacher about any hands-on projects with machines, sewing, or fabric, since comfort with equipment helps in this job.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs at local factories, fabric stores, or manufacturing plants, and ask whether they offer on-the-job training.
  • Show that you are reliable and careful with safety rules, because employers often hire based on attitude and attendance more than prior experience.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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