51 Series · SOC 51-6021
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $35,060
- Median / year
- $43,050
- Top 10% earn
- -13.5%
- Growth '23–'33
- 26,120
- US workers
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials earn a median of $35,060 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $35,060, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $27,180 (10th percentile) to $43,050 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 26,120 US workers. Illinois pays the most ($40,230), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials earn a median of $35,060, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 2% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #104 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 13.5% by 2033.
- $35,060
- Median annual wage
- Top 98%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #104 of 105
- in Production
- 1.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Illinois at $40,230. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials (SOC 51-6021) pays a national median of $35,060 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $27,180 at the 10th percentile to $43,050 at the 90th, with a mean of $34,640 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 26,120 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 117 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -13.5% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,800 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Illinois pays the highest state median at $40,230, which is +15% above the national figure. The top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $44,440 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$35,060
per year
Median Hourly
$16.85/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$34,640
average
Employment
26,120
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$35,060 Bottom 2% higher than 2% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials sits on the slower-growing side at -13.5% growth and $35,060 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-13.5%
Declining
Annual Openings
2,800
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
- ▸ Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
- ▸ Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.
- ▸ Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
- ▸ Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.
- ▸ Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
- ▸ Identify and treat spots on garments.
- ▸ Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam.
- ▸ Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.
- ▸ Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$27,180
25th Percentile
$29,870
Median
$35,060
75th Percentile
$37,940
90th Percentile
$43,050
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $40,230 | +15% above national |
| 2 | California | $39,300 | +12% above national |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $38,540 | +10% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $38,300 | +9% above national |
| 5 | Maine | $38,020 | +8% above national |
| 6 | New Jersey | $37,920 | +8% above national |
| 7 | Washington | $37,620 | +7% above national |
| 8 | Arizona | $36,870 | +5% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $36,860 | +5% above national |
| 10 | New York | $36,510 | +4% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,410 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $36,390 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Michigan | $36,290 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Connecticut | $36,030 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Idaho | $35,990 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Hawaii | $35,980 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Nevada | $35,560 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $35,500 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Utah | $35,320 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Montana | $35,270 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Maryland | $34,390 | 2% below national |
| 22 | Nebraska | $33,300 | 5% below national |
| 23 | Georgia | $33,010 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Iowa | $32,990 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Florida | $31,760 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Virginia | $31,220 | 11% below national |
| 27 | Kentucky | $31,200 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Ohio | $30,820 | 12% below national |
| 29 | Missouri | $30,520 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Wyoming | $30,460 | 13% below national |
| 31 | Arkansas | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $29,880 | 15% below national |
| 33 | Texas | $29,680 | 15% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $29,460 | 16% below national |
| 35 | North Carolina | $29,300 | 16% below national |
| 36 | South Carolina | $29,160 | 17% below national |
| 37 | Kansas | $29,110 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Indiana | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 39 | New Mexico | $28,730 | 18% below national |
| 40 | West Virginia | $28,400 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $28,340 | 19% below national |
| 42 | Mississippi | $27,180 | 22% below national |
| 43 | Louisiana | $27,170 | 23% below national |
| 44 | Alabama | $26,860 | 23% below national |
| 45 | Puerto Rico | $21,980 | 37% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 117 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,440 | +27% above national |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,790 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $39,510 | +13% above national |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,300 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $39,170 | +12% above national |
| 6 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $38,700 | +10% above national |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $38,630 | +10% above national |
| 8 | Modesto, CA | $38,460 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Salinas, CA | $38,350 | +9% above national |
| 10 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $38,300 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,190 | +9% above national |
| 12 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $38,020 | +8% above national |
| 13 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $38,000 | +8% above national |
| 14 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,920 | +8% above national |
| 15 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $37,820 | +8% above national |
| 16 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $37,620 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Fresno, CA | $37,590 | +7% above national |
| 18 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,170 | +6% above national |
| 19 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $37,170 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $36,980 | +5% above national |
| 21 | Medford, OR | $36,860 | +5% above national |
| 22 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,510 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $36,410 | +4% above national |
| 24 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $36,390 | +4% above national |
| 25 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $36,290 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Madison, WI | $36,120 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Rochester, NY | $36,100 | +3% above national |
| 28 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $36,030 | +3% above national |
| 29 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $35,990 | +3% above national |
| 30 | Boise City, ID | $35,990 | +3% above national |
| 31 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $35,980 | +3% above national |
| 32 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $35,940 | +3% above national |
| 33 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $35,900 | +2% above national |
| 34 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,730 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $35,580 | +1% above national |
| 36 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $35,560 | +1% above national |
| 37 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $35,530 | +1% above national |
| 38 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,520 | +1% above national |
| 39 | Green Bay, WI | $35,340 | +1% above national |
| 40 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $35,240 | +1% above national |
| 41 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $35,140 | same as national |
| 42 | Omaha, NE-IA | $35,110 | same as national |
| 43 | Syracuse, NY | $35,070 | same as national |
| 44 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $34,980 | same as national |
| 45 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $34,790 | 1% below national |
| 46 | Worcester, MA | $34,530 | 2% below national |
| 47 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $34,300 | 2% below national |
| 48 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $34,290 | 2% below national |
| 49 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $34,050 | 3% below national |
| 50 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $33,830 | 4% below national |
| 51 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $33,810 | 4% below national |
| 52 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $33,550 | 4% below national |
| 53 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $33,510 | 4% below national |
| 54 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $33,390 | 5% below national |
| 55 | Albuquerque, NM | $33,330 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $32,920 | 6% below national |
| 57 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $32,720 | 7% below national |
| 58 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $32,480 | 7% below national |
| 59 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $32,220 | 8% below national |
| 60 | Savannah, GA | $32,220 | 8% below national |
| 61 | Reno, NV | $32,210 | 8% below national |
| 62 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $32,210 | 8% below national |
| 63 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,030 | 9% below national |
| 64 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $31,790 | 9% below national |
| 65 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $31,640 | 10% below national |
| 66 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,500 | 10% below national |
| 67 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $31,450 | 10% below national |
| 68 | Jacksonville, FL | $31,320 | 11% below national |
| 69 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $31,180 | 11% below national |
| 70 | Akron, OH | $30,890 | 12% below national |
| 71 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $30,860 | 12% below national |
| 72 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $30,860 | 12% below national |
| 73 | Cleveland, OH | $30,470 | 13% below national |
| 74 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $30,390 | 13% below national |
| 75 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,300 | 14% below national |
| 76 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30,290 | 14% below national |
| 77 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $29,970 | 15% below national |
| 78 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $29,940 | 15% below national |
| 79 | Columbus, OH | $29,870 | 15% below national |
| 80 | Pittsburgh, PA | $29,840 | 15% below national |
| 81 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $29,810 | 15% below national |
| 82 | Toledo, OH | $29,760 | 15% below national |
| 83 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $29,730 | 15% below national |
| 84 | Jackson, MS | $29,720 | 15% below national |
| 85 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $29,680 | 15% below national |
| 86 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $29,460 | 16% below national |
| 87 | Tulsa, OK | $29,400 | 16% below national |
| 88 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $29,380 | 16% below national |
| 89 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,380 | 16% below national |
| 90 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $29,360 | 16% below national |
| 91 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,300 | 16% below national |
| 92 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $29,180 | 17% below national |
| 93 | Winston-Salem, NC | $29,120 | 17% below national |
| 94 | Wichita, KS | $29,110 | 17% below national |
| 95 | Waco, TX | $28,960 | 17% below national |
| 96 | Baton Rouge, LA | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 97 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $28,840 | 18% below national |
| 98 | Richmond, VA | $28,830 | 18% below national |
| 99 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $28,830 | 18% below national |
| 100 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $28,530 | 19% below national |
| 101 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,400 | 19% below national |
| 102 | Oklahoma City, OK | $28,380 | 19% below national |
| 103 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,320 | 19% below national |
| 104 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $28,160 | 20% below national |
| 105 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $28,130 | 20% below national |
| 106 | Lubbock, TX | $28,010 | 20% below national |
| 107 | Bowling Green, KY | $27,790 | 21% below national |
| 108 | Tallahassee, FL | $27,720 | 21% below national |
| 109 | Huntsville, AL | $27,630 | 21% below national |
| 110 | Columbus, GA-AL | $27,600 | 21% below national |
| 111 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $27,490 | 22% below national |
| 112 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $27,300 | 22% below national |
| 113 | Birmingham, AL | $27,190 | 22% below national |
| 114 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $24,440 | 30% below national |
| 115 | El Paso, TX | $23,320 | 33% below national |
| 116 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $22,000 | 37% below national |
| 117 | Spartanburg, SC | $19,480 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials make? ▼
What state pays Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials? ▼
How dangerous is being a Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials? ▼
Is Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials a good career? ▼
How does Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $37,940/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Illinois leads at $40,230/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.