Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Career, Salary and Skills

Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $38,760 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 9,000. Wage data is published for 73 locations.

Occupation description

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

O*NET code

51-6062.00

Job zone

2

Typical education

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Experience

None

National salary and employment

Median annual

$38,760

Hourly median

$18.64

Employment

9,000

Data year

2025

National salary distribution

$28,650
10th
$34,230
25th
$38,760
Median
$45,220
75th
$49,420
90th

Top skills

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Typical tasks

  • Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters, or computer numerically controlled cutting devices.
  • Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
  • Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
  • Record information about work completed and machine settings.
  • Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
  • Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
  • Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
  • Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
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Technology

  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • HAISEN SoftWare System
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software
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Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

All 73 locations →

Related careers

Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.