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Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles; or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Includes slubber machine and drawing frame operators.

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 $38,670 Median per year · $18.59/hr Most earn $31,790–$49,420

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Unwind lengths of yarn, thread, or twine from spools and wind onto bobbins.
  • Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
  • Place bobbins on spindles and insert spindles into bobbin-winding machines.
  • Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
  • Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
  • Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.

Job outlook

United States
10% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 2,400 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 mills56.7%
  • Textile product mills26.0%
  • Chemical manufacturing8.4%
  • 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: None

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: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn the machines on the job, with no prior work experience usually needed. Many people move into it right after high school.

  1. High school diploma

    About 4 years

    Finishing high school with solid math and hands-on skills shows employers you can follow measurements, read gauges, and learn equipment.

  2. Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Operator

    Learned on the job, starting right after high school

    You start as a machine tender, learning to load fiber, watch the machines, spot problems, and keep production running safely while experienced workers teach you the setup.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Textile Machine Operator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You train newer operators, check quality, and help set up machines, which takes strong troubleshooting and reliability.

  2. Production Supervisor

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee a shift or line, schedule workers, and track output and safety, so you need good communication and leadership skills along with machine knowledge.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physical science classesMeasurement, fractions, and basic physics help you understand how machines and fibers work.
  • Join a shop, robotics, or engineering clubHands-on building teaches you to work with tools, follow directions, and fix things that break.
  • Get a part-time job at a store, factory, or warehouseAny job where you follow a process and work with equipment shows employers you are reliable and comfortable on the job.
  • Learn workplace safety basicsKnowing how to stay safe around moving machinery is a key part of working as a machine operator.
  • Try sewing, knitting, or fiber crafts at home or in a classWorking with yarn and fabric helps you understand how fibers behave before you work with industrial machines.

In college

  • Take industrial technology, manufacturing, or textile coursesClasses in production processes, materials, or textiles give you background on the fibers and machines used in this field.
  • Get a part-time job or internship at a manufacturing plantHands-on time on a production floor builds the experience employers look for and helps you learn machine routines.
  • Earn a workplace safety certificationMany community colleges and local training centers offer short safety courses that make you a stronger candidate for machine work.
  • Join a technical or engineering student clubTeamwork on builds and projects strengthens troubleshooting and communication, which are useful for moving up to lead roles.
  • Volunteer or work where you run equipment with supervisionExperience following procedures and reporting problems to a supervisor is valuable for any machine tender role.

Tips for getting started

  • Take math, shop, or any hands-on technical classes, since reading measurements and understanding machines is the core of this job.
  • Look for a part-time or summer job at a factory, fabric store, or manufacturing plant to get used to a production setting and its safety rules.
  • Show up on time, follow safety instructions closely, and ask questions. Employers in plants often hire people who are dependable and willing to learn.

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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