SOC 51-6063.00

    Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

    Median pay
    $39,530
    Growth
    -13.7%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    1,300
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $29,960
    Median
    $39,530
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $49,130
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    13,030 people work in this occupation.

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

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    99 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    14 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    9 / 100
    Social (S)
    0 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    6 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    55 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Controlling Machines and Processes
    79
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    78
    Getting Information
    75
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    72
    Performing General Physical Activities
    71
    Handling and Moving Objects
    68
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    67
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    67
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    62
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    62
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Monitoring
    • Active Listening
    • Operation and Control
    • Critical Thinking
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Speaking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Time Management
    • Complex Problem Solving

    Knowledge

    • Production and Processing
    • English Language
    • Mechanical
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Education and Training
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administration and Management
    • Mathematics
    • Design

    Abilities

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Control Precision
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Trunk Strength
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Selective Attention

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Self-Control
    • Cooperation
    • Adaptability

    Also called

    Automated Weaver · Automatic Full-Fashioned Hosiery Knitting Machine Operator · Automatic Pad-Making Machine Operator · Belt Weaver · Blanket Weaver · Braid Pattern Setter · Broadloom Weaver · Carpet Loom Fixer · Carpet Weaver · Circular Knit Operator

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.