Occupation · SOC 51-6063
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.
Median wage
$38,260
$29,640–$48,070
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
14,530
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
Operations MonitoringMonitoringActive ListeningOperation and Control
Knowledge areas
Production and ProcessingEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Computer aided manufacturing CAM softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.Program electronic equipment.Set up, or set up and operate textile machines that perform textile processing and manufacturing operations such as winding, twisting, knitting, weaving, bonding, or stretching.Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.Record information about work completed and machine settings.Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.Adjust machine heating mechanisms, tensions, and speeds to produce specified products.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Yarn, thread, and fabric — thread through guides, needles, and rollers under direct supervisor instruction on a production floor.Machine start-up sequence — follow established protocols to start knitting or weaving machines under close supervision.Woven cloth surface — observe for visible weaving defects while stationed at an active loom with a trainer present.Minor cloth defects — remove by cutting and pulling out filling under direct guidance from an experienced operator.Machine stoppages — recognize common causes such as warp breaks or harness failures and report immediately to a supervisor.Mechanical malfunctions — notify supervisors or repair staff promptly when abnormal machine sounds or stops occur on the production line.Product output quantities — monitor counts against specified targets and stop machines when directed amounts are reached.Finished textile samples — inspect against basic quality specifications using near vision under supervisor oversight.Workplace safety instructions — listen actively and follow oral directions from lead operators in a noisy mill environment.Production records — enter basic run data into spreadsheet or office suite software following a provided template.
developing
Loom threading procedures — perform independently and accurately for multiple machine types across a standard production shift.Woven cloth defects — detect and categorize recurring defect patterns while monitoring several machines simultaneously on the floor.Cloth defect repairs — cut and remove filling to correct weaving errors with reduced oversight on routine production runs.Loom stoppage causes — examine mechanical components and distinguish between warp filling, harness breaks, and minor mechanical defects without prompting.Machine operating parameters — adjust tension, speed, and feed settings to maintain product specifications during a standard shift.Product inspections — compare finished textiles against quality specifications and flag non-conforming items before they advance downstream.Machine monitoring routines — apply selective attention to track multiple simultaneous operations and make timely adjustments in a mid-volume facility.Supervisor notifications — communicate machine malfunction details clearly and concisely using oral and written channels in a production setting.Production output logs — update spreadsheet records accurately to reflect completed yardage and downtime events across a full shift.Repetitive manual tasks — maintain arm-hand steadiness and finger dexterity throughout extended periods of threading and adjustment work.
proficient
Complex loom and knitting machine configurations — set up and troubleshoot autonomously across the full range of machine types in a high-volume textile facility.Non-routine weaving defects — diagnose root causes and determine corrective action without supervisor direction during active production.Cloth defect removal — execute precise cutting and filling extraction on difficult fabric constructions while minimizing material waste.Mechanical defect analysis — evaluate loom components systematically to identify intermittent or compound failures and coordinate timely repairs.Machine adjustment decisions — apply control precision to recalibrate operating parameters in response to material variation or product changeovers.Full-shift production monitoring — oversee multiple machine stations, maintain quality standards, and meet throughput targets with minimal oversight.Quality inspection judgments — assess finished textiles against detailed specifications and initiate disposition decisions for borderline nonconforming product.CAM software utilization — interpret and apply computer-aided manufacturing program settings to optimize knitting or weaving machine performance.Cross-functional communication — relay technical malfunction data to maintenance and engineering teams with precision in a fast-paced production environment.Operator self-assessment — evaluate personal performance data from production logs and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
advanced
Machine setup standards — develop and document threading, tensioning, and operational protocols adopted as the facility-wide standard for all operators.Defect reduction initiatives — lead root-cause analysis of recurring weaving and knitting defects and implement corrective programs across production lines.Operator training programs — design and deliver structured on-the-job training for new and developing machine operators on a textile production floor.Quality assurance frameworks — establish inspection criteria and tolerance standards for finished textile products aligned with customer and regulatory requirements.Production scheduling input — collaborate with operations management to plan machine changeovers, staffing, and throughput targets for a multi-shift facility.Maintenance coordination — direct preventive and corrective maintenance priorities for knitting and weaving equipment to minimize unplanned downtime.Performance metrics oversight — analyze spreadsheet and CAM software data at an aggregate level to identify efficiency trends and drive continuous improvement.Safety and compliance leadership — champion workplace safety procedures and machine-guarding standards across an entire production department.New technology evaluation — assess emerging knitting and weaving equipment or CAM software upgrades and recommend adoption decisions to plant leadership.Workforce capability planning — identify skill gaps among production staff and partner with management to build long-term competency development plans for the department.
Also known as
138 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Surgical-Elastic Knitter, Hand FrameFooterJacquard Loom Heddles TierSample WeaverLoom FixerCrochet Machine OperatorCloth Wire WeaverVelvet WeaverLooping Machine OperatorAutomatic Full-Fashioned Hosiery Knitting Machine OperatorTufting OperatorLeavers Lace Machine OperatorFull-Fashioned Garment KnitterAutomatic Pad-Making Machine OperatorOperatorSmash PiecerKnitter OperatorNeedle Loom OperatorTop KnitterJacquard Loom Carpet WeaverJacquard Lace WeaverToeing StockingsChain Builder, Loom ControlRibbing Machine OperatorPlush WeaverLace WeaverDenier Control OperatorKnitter, Full-Fashioned GarmentLeggerTowel WeaverWire Weaver, ClothLoom Control Chain BuilderRug HookerQuilter FixerHeddles Tier, Jacquard LoomMachinist (Marine Corps 2161)Wrap Knitting Machine OperatorWeaver ApprenticeRug WeaverWarp-Knitting-Machine Operator