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Textile Workers

Textile workers operate machinery and use hand tools to create, process, repair, and finish various fabric, leather, and synthetic materials across manufacturing facilities, dry cleaning establishments, and specialized shops. These professionals work with sewing machines, pressing equipment, dyeing apparatus, and cutting tools to produce garments, upholstery, footwear, and other textile products. Their responsibilities range from machine operation and quality monitoring to custom design work and detailed hand finishing.

Median Annual Pay
$34,213
Range: $23,650 - $106,870
Training Time
Less than 6 months
AI Resilience
🟠In Transition
Education
Less than high school

🎬Career Video

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: low AI task exposure, limited human advantage means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟡AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Low+2

5% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

+5% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Weak+0

EPOCH score: 8/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

📋Key Responsibilities

  • Load articles into washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to perform loading.
  • Start washers, dry cleaners, driers, or extractors, and turn valves or levers to regulate machine processes and the volume of soap, detergent, water, bleach, starch, and other additives.
  • Operate extractors and driers, or direct their operation.
  • Remove items from washers or dry-cleaning machines, or direct other workers to do so.
  • Sort and count articles removed from dryers, and fold, wrap, or hang them.
  • Clean machine filters, and lubricate equipment.
  • Examine and sort into lots articles to be cleaned, according to color, fabric, dirt content, and cleaning technique required.
  • Receive and mark articles for laundry or dry cleaning with identifying code numbers or names, using hand or machine markers.

💡Inside This Career

Textile workers spend their days transforming raw materials into finished products through skilled hands-on operations. Whether operating industrial machinery in large manufacturing facilities or working at specialized stations in smaller shops, these professionals focus intensively on production tasks that require precision and attention to detail. A typical day might begin with machine setup—threading equipment, adjusting settings, and preparing materials for the work ahead. The majority of time is dedicated to active processing: guiding fabrics through cutting machines, monitoring dyeing operations, stitching garments on sewing equipment, or operating pressing tools to achieve perfect finishes.

The work environment varies significantly across specializations, from the humid conditions of commercial laundries to the quiet concentration required in custom tailoring shops. Some textile workers collaborate closely with team members on assembly lines, passing materials through sequential production stages, while others work more independently on specialized tasks like pattern-making or equipment maintenance. Throughout the day, workers frequently handle quality control responsibilities—inspecting materials for defects, ensuring proper color matching, or checking seam integrity.

Physical demands are common across most textile roles, whether standing at machinery for extended periods, lifting bolts of fabric, or performing repetitive motions with tools and equipment. Workers regularly transition between different types of materials—from delicate silks requiring gentle handling to heavy canvas demanding robust processing techniques. The pace often fluctuates based on production schedules and customer deadlines, with busy periods requiring efficient workflow management and careful coordination with supervisors and colleagues to meet quality standards and delivery expectations.

📈Career Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$23,670
$21,303 - $26,037
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$27,690
$24,921 - $30,459
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$31,050
$27,945 - $34,155
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$35,460
$31,914 - $39,006
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$38,920
$35,028 - $42,812

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Less than high school
  • Experience: Little or no experience
  • On-the-job Training: Short demonstration

Time & Cost

Education Duration
0-0 years (typically 0)
Estimated Education Cost
$0 - $0
Can earn while learning
Source: college board (2024)
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💻Technology Skills

POS systemsMicrosoft ExcelInventory trackingScheduling softwareProduction tracking softwareQuality control systemsInventory systemsSewing machine control softwareInventory managementAccounting softwareProduction control softwareQuality trackingEmbroidery design softwareAdobe IllustratorPattern design software

Key Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness
Oral Comprehension
Oral Expression
Manual Dexterity
Control Precision
Near Vision
Speech Recognition
Problem Sensitivity
Information Ordering
Finger Dexterity

🏷️Also Known As

Textile WorkersAssorterBag HangerBag WasherBenzene WasherBenzene WorkerBlanket WasherBox Storage WorkerBundle BreakerButtoner+20 more

📑Specializations

This career includes 15 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in production

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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