How to become a textile knitting and weaving machine setter, operators, and tenders

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

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

• Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
• Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
• Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
• Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
• Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
• Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.

Skills that matter most

• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Learning Strategies
• Active Learning

Is textile knitting and weaving machine setter, operators, and tenders a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 22% 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

• New York $49,570
• New Hampshire $48,440
• Maine $48,350
• Washington $48,220
• Minnesota $46,430

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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.