Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $38,760 per year ($18.64/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 13.6% through 2035, with about 900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-6062
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,760a year, or $18.64/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $29KTop 10% $49K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -13.6%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−13.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −13.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9009,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20259.4K
- Projected 20358.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 9.4K Projected 2035 8.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school32.3%
- High school67.7%
Highest education held by textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 32.3% High school 67.7%
Also advertised as: Automated Cutting Machine Operator, CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator), Cutter, Cutter Operator, Die Cut Operator, Fabric Cutter.
Pay
How much do Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
Every textile cutting machine setter, operator, and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,760
Middle half earn $34,230 to $45,220
- 10th
- $28,650
- 25th
- $34,230
- 75th
- $45,220
- 90th
- $49,420
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $28,650 |
| 25th | $34,230 |
| Median | $38,760 |
| 75th | $45,220 |
| 90th | $49,420 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,760
- Median hourly wage
- $18.64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $39,530
- People employed
- 9,000
Versus all US occupations
At $38,760, Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn 24% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,220 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 19% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $49,420 or more while the bottom 10% earn $28,650, a gap of 1.7×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 7% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Connecticut posts the highest raw median ($47,160), but once local prices are taken into account North Carolina leads at $46,074 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $47,160 | $45,517 | 50 |
| 2New York | $46,810 | $43,374 | 170 |
| 3New Hampshire | $45,930 | $44,094 | 80 |
| 4Hawaii | $45,760 | $41,619 | N/A |
| 5Washington | $45,380 | $42,406 | 140 |
| 6Massachusetts | $43,680 | $41,302 | 380 |
| 7North Carolina | $43,460 | $46,074 | 840 |
| 8Indiana | $41,740 | $44,724 | 70 |
| 9South Carolina | $41,740 | $44,523 | 480 |
| 10Ohio | $41,600 | $44,840 | 370 |
Job outlook
Is Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -13.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | −13.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders to change -13.6% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 1,300 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 900 openings are projected each year, 9.6% of the 9,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)67.7%
- Less than a High School Diploma32.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 67.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 32.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
Day-to-day tasks
- Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
- Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
- Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
- Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
- Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
- Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
- Record information about work completed and machine settings.
- Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Monitoring3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Writing2.6
- Active Learning2.5
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.8
- Operation and Control3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Repairing3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Industrial control software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.4
- Conventional4.5
- Enterprising1.6
- Investigative1.6
- Artistic1.5
- Social1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
O*NET related occupations
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$46,570median a year
Most earn $36K to $61K
−0.9%High school - Production
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$50,270median a year
Most earn $37K to $70K
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$43,380median a year
Most earn $32K to $57K
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$46,550median a year
Most earn $36K to $63K
−10.8%High school - Production
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$46,330median a year
Most earn $36K to $66K
−10.5%High school - Production
More production careers
Median annual pay, with textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender$38,760
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender | $38,760 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender appears on
Questions
Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $38,760 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 24% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.64/hr. The middle half earn between $34,230 and $45,220. The top 10% earn $49,420 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 67.7% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 13.6% over 2025–2035, a loss of 1,300 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender do?
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles. A core O*NET task: inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
Which states pay Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are Connecticut ($47,160), New York ($46,810), New Hampshire ($45,930) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Carolina moves to the top at $46,074.
What personality type suits a Textile Cutting Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
O*NET scores Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.