Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Career, Salary and Skills
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $39,530 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 13,030. Wage data is published for 48 locations.
Occupation description
Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
O*NET code
51-6063.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$39,530
Hourly median
$19.01
Employment
13,030
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$29,960
10th
$36,390
25th
$39,530
Median
$45,220
75th
$49,130
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Monitoring | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.50 |
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.88 | 2.25 |
| Speaking | 2.88 | 2.38 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.88 | 2.62 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.75 | 2.38 |
| Time Management | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.50 | 2.12 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
Technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in GAMedian $40,930 · Employment 3,550
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in NCMedian $36,700 · Employment 2,730
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in SCMedian $39,760 · Employment 1,500
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Dalton, GAMedian $39,840 · Employment 1,220
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $44,790 · Employment 820
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in ALMedian $37,340 · Employment 770
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in CAMedian $44,530 · Employment 590
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in VAMedian $39,470 · Employment 580
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $44,530 · Employment 530
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Greenville, SCMedian $39,760 · Employment 530
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in PAMedian $45,580 · Employment 510
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Charlotte, NCMedian $39,530 · Employment 490
Related careers
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $46,550
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandNational median $42,660
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $50,140
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $46,330
- Cutters and Trimmers, HandNational median $38,020
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticNational median $47,720
- Machine Feeders and OffbearersNational median $41,220
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
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.