Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders work in a specialized manufacturing niche focused on textile production. National employment stands at 15,000, indicating a relatively small but defined workforce. The national median annual salary is $38,260, with some locations offering higher typical pay. While the occupation has a projected employment growth rate of -11.2%, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, which may reflect turnover, retirements, and other workforce transitions. The role draws on a mix of mechanical ability, physical strength and stamina, and fine motor skills, combined with attention to detail and adaptability. Computer and information technology skills, as well as critical and analytical thinking, can also be useful. For people interested in hands-on work in textiles who meet the physical demands of the job and value precision, this career can provide a structured pathway, with options to explore related occupations such as other textile machine roles, coating or spraying machine work, or even metal and wood machine operation.
The national median annual salary for textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders is $38,260. However, pay can vary by location. Several states show higher typical pay levels, including California with a median of $44,530, Massachusetts at $44,190, and New York at $49,570. Washington and Virginia also come in above the national median, at $48,220 and $39,470 respectively. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton reports a median salary of $47,960, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin is at $47,710, and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington is at $45,580. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro aligns with the California state median at $44,530. These differences suggest that workers may see stronger earning potential in certain states and metros, particularly New York state and several major urban areas where median wages exceed the national figure.
This occupation has national employment of 15,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of -11.2%. Despite this projected decline, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings. The combination of negative growth and continuing openings indicates that, even as overall employment is expected to shrink, there will likely be ongoing replacement needs as current workers leave the field. The consistently cited -11.2% growth rate appears across the national outlook and in the listed states and metro areas, suggesting a broad pattern rather than a regional exception. For career planning, this means that while new positions may be limited over time, people entering the field may still find opportunities tied to turnover and normal workforce transitions. Individuals considering this career may want to weigh the stable presence of current jobs and openings against the expectation of reduced total employment in the longer term.
Location makes a clear difference for textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Washington, and Virginia rank highest by opportunity score. New York stands out with a median salary of $49,570, the highest among these states, though employment is relatively modest at 230. California offers a median of $44,530 with 590 employed, while Virginia has a lower listed median of $39,470 but nearly as many workers at 580. Washington and Massachusetts combine higher median wages—$48,220 and $44,190, respectively—with smaller employment levels. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, with a median salary of $41,350. Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin post higher median salaries—$47,960 and $47,710—though with smaller employment. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim shows relatively high employment at 530 and a median salary of $44,530, while Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington combines moderate employment with a median of $45,580.
The typical education requirement for textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders is a high school diploma or equivalent. This creates an accessible entry point for many people who are ready to move directly into the workforce after secondary education or return to work without additional formal schooling. Success in this role draws on a specific mix of skills. Fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and mechanical abilities are central, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding nature of the work. Being detail oriented and adaptable can support consistency and responsiveness on the job. The skills list also highlights computers and information technology, critical and analytical thinking, science, leadership, and creativity and innovation. While the typical education requirement does not specify particular programs or courses, individuals may benefit from strengthening these skills in any setting—school, previous jobs, or personal projects—to be better prepared for this occupation and for potential movement into similar machine operator roles.
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