Occupation salary profile

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

SOC 51-6063 BLS OEWS May 2025

Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles. Excludes “Sewing Machine Operators” (51-6031).

National median · BLS
$39,530
▲ +3.32% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$40,720
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
13,030
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$29,960
25th$36,390
Median (50th)$39,530
75th$45,220
90th — top pay$49,130

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

BLS projects employment of textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders to decline 13.7% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%. About 1,300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
13,900 → 12,000
-1,900 jobs
Projected change
-13.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-declining jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a high school diploma →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operations Monitoring3.4
  • Monitoring3.1
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Operation and Control3.0
  • Critical Thinking2.9
  • Quality Control Analysis2.9
  • Speaking2.9
  • Reading Comprehension2.8
  • Time Management2.6
  • Complex Problem Solving2.5
Top knowledge areas
  • Production and Processing3.4
  • English Language3.2
  • Mechanical3.0
  • Public Safety and Security2.6
  • Education and Training2.6
  • Computers and Electronics2.5
  • Customer and Personal Service2.3
  • Administration and Management2.2
Software and technology used
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Word

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders do

  • Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
  • Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
  • Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
  • Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
  • Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
  • Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
  • Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
  • Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
Also called
KnitterMachine OperatorTufting OperatorWeaverKnitting Machine OperatorLoom FixerOperatorTufting Machine OperatorWarp Knit OperatorWinder Operator
More job titles for this occupation (80)
Automated WeaverAutomatic Full-Fashioned Hosiery Knitting Machine OperatorAutomatic Pad-Making Machine OperatorBelt WeaverBlanket WeaverBraid Pattern SetterBroadloom WeaverCarpet Loom FixerCarpet WeaverCircular Knit OperatorCloth WeaverCloth Wire WeaverCreelerCrochet Machine OperatorCrocheterDenier Control OperatorDobby Loom WeaverDrawing in Machine TenderFooterFringe WeaverFull-Fashioned Garment KnitterHand Frame Surgical Elastic KnitterHarness BuilderHarness PlacerHarness WorkerHeddler TierHose MakerHosiery KnitterIndian Blanket WeaverJacquard Lace WeaverJacquard Loom Carpet WeaverJacquard Loom Heddles TierJacquard Loom WeaverJacquard Plate MakerKnitter MechanicKnitter OperatorKnitting Machine FixerLace WeaverLacemakerLatcherLeavers Lace Machine OperatorLeggerLink and Link Knitting Machine OperatorLink Knitting Machine OperatorLoom ChangerLoom Control Chain BuilderLoom OperatorLoop PullerLooperLooper OperatorLooping Machine OperatorMachine KnitterManufacturing WeaverNarrow Fabrics WeaverNeedle Felt Making Machine OperatorNeedle Loom OperatorNeedle Loom SetterNeedle Loom WeaverNetting WeaverPattern WeaverPattern Wheel MakerPlush WeaverQuilter FixerRib KnitterRibberRibbing Machine OperatorRibbon WeaverRug HookerRug WeaverSample HandSample WeaverSeamless Hosiery KnitterSilk WeaverSmash FixerSmash HandSmash PiecerSmasherSmasher HandSurgical Elastic KnitterTag Maker

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.