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Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

ManufacturingO*NET 51-6062.00United States

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$38,771

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−8.4%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

100% of the workforce

Employment
9.27K jobs

Growing to 8.49K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
  • 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.
  • Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
  • Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
  • Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
  • Record information about work completed and machine settings.
  • Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
  • Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
  • Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
  • Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$28,662
25th percentile
$34,237
50th percentile
$38,771
75th percentile
$45,219
90th percentile
$49,421

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $38,771 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−8.4%projected to decline
20259,266 jobs
2035 projected8,489 jobs

777 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
100%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Lifting Ability
  • Machinery
  • Machine Operation
  • Laser Cutting
  • Calipers
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Fabrication
  • Tape Measure
  • Forklift Truck
  • Hand Tools
  • Blueprinting
  • Embroidery Machine Operation
  • General Mathematics
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • Micrometer
  • Embroidery
  • Textiles
  • Sheet Metal
  • Machine Setup
  • Housekeeping

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Laser Operators969 postings
  2. 02Embroidery Machine Operators554 postings
  3. 03Laborers352 postings
  4. 04CNC Laser Operators238 postings
  5. 05Fabric Cutters127 postings
  6. 06Helpers90 postings
  7. 07Operators90 postings
  8. 08Embroidery Managers85 postings
  9. 09Cutters81 postings
  10. 10Waterjet Operators77 postings
  11. 11Machine Operators51 postings
  12. 12Cutting Machine Operators45 postings
  13. 13Punch Press Operators45 postings
  14. 14Press Brake Operators43 postings
  15. 15Creelers37 postings
  16. 16Die Cutter Operators36 postings
  17. 17Fabrication Associates32 postings
  18. 18Cutter Operators31 postings
  19. 19Embroiderers30 postings
  20. 20Embroidery Operators28 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Aerotek152 postings
  2. 02Eaton Corporation40 postings
  3. 03Hensel Phelps33 postings
  4. 04Mohawk Industries33 postings
  5. 05Express Employment Professionals31 postings
  6. 06ManpowerGroup27 postings
  7. 07Hensel Phelps Construction Company26 postings
  8. 08International Paper26 postings
  9. 09Oniverse24 postings
  10. 10PrideStaff21 postings
  11. 11Comfama18 postings
  12. 12Metalcraft Of Mayville18 postings
  13. 13Engineered Floors17 postings
  14. 1484 Lumber16 postings
  15. 15Staffmark16 postings
  16. 16Adecco13 postings
  17. 17GPAC13 postings
  18. 18Spherion Staffing13 postings
  19. 19Fabrifast12 postings
  20. 20Jps Composite Materials12 postings

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