Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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

Also Known As:

Knitter Knitting Machine Operator Loom Fixer Machine Operator Operator Tufting Machine Operator Tufting Operator Warp Knit Operator Weaver Winder Operator

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

14,400

-12% Change From 2023

Explore Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
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.
Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.
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.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Program electronic equipment.
Adjust machine heating mechanisms, tensions, and speeds to produce specified products.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.
Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.
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.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.