Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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
Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
What Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders do
Typical tasks
- Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
- 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.
- Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
- Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
- Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
- Program electronic equipment.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary
The median annual wage for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $39,530 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $29,960 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $49,130. The mean annual wage is $40,720.
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 Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $39,530 → in 3 years $42,300 → in 5 years $44,300 → in 10 years $49,500 (10-year range $42,600–$57,500). 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 Knitting and Weaving 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 Knitting and Weaving 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 Knitting and Weaving 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.
The same job in Japan
| Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders United States | 織布工/織機オペレーター Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $39,530 | ¥3.19M ≈ $20,310 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $49,500 | ¥3.98M |
| Outlook score | 31 | 40 |
| AI replacement risk | 39% Low | 56% Moderate |
| Workers | 13K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Textile Knitting and Weaving 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 Knitting and Weaving 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 Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.