How to become a presser, textile, garment, and related materials
Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.
What pressers, textile, garment, and related materials do
- Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
- Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.
- Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
- Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
- Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.
- Moisten materials to soften and smooth them.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
Is presser, textile, garment, and related materials a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 31% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- California $39,300
- New Hampshire $38,540
- Colorado $38,300
- Maine $38,020
- New Jersey $37,920
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.