Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
SOC code 51-6062 · O*NET-SOC 51-6062.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$38,760
a year
Hourly
$18.64
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$39,530
$19.01 per hour
Middle 50%
$34,230 – $45,220
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$28,650 – $49,420
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
9,000
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $28,650
- $13.78/hr
- 25th percentile
- $34,230
- $16.46/hr
- Median percentile
- $38,760
- $18.64/hr
- 75th percentile
- $45,220
- $21.74/hr
- 90th percentile
- $49,420
- $23.76/hr
What do textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
- Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
- Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
- 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.
- Program electronic equipment.
- Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine set-up requirements.
- Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 68% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)68%
- Less than a High School Diploma32%
Common questions
How much does a textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?
The national median is $38,760 a year. The full range runs from $28,650 at the 10th percentile to $49,420 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Production and Processing3.3/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- Mechanical2.8/5
- English Language2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting.