Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Automated Cutting Machine Operator, Automatic Die Cutting Machine Operator, Automatic Folding Machine Operator, Automatic Label Cutting Machine Operator, Band Cutter, Barrel Drum Cutter, Bedspread Cutter, Bias Cutting Machine Operator
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
What textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Typical tasks
- Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
- 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.
- Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
- Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
- Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
- Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary
The median annual wage for textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders is $38,760 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $28,650 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $49,420. The mean annual wage is $39,530.
The mean hourly wage of $19.00 is 2.6× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $38,760 → in 3 years $41,500 → in 5 years $43,400 → in 10 years $48,500 (10-year range $41,700–$56,300). The model assumes pay growth of +2.3% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.