51 Series · SOC 51-6062
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $38,760
- Median / year
- $49,420
- Top 10% earn
- -11.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 9,000
- US workers
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $38,760 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $38,760, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $28,650 (10th percentile) to $49,420 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 9,000 US workers. Connecticut pays the most ($47,160), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $38,760, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 10% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #93 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 11.7% by 2033.
- $38,760
- Median annual wage
- Top 90%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #93 of 105
- in Production
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Connecticut at $47,160. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (SOC 51-6062) pays a national median of $38,760 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $28,650 at the 10th percentile to $49,420 at the 90th, with a mean of $39,530 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 9,000 Americans work in this occupation across 38 reporting states and 45 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -11.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-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. Connecticut pays the highest state median at $47,160, which is +22% above the national figure. The top metro is Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC at $49,390 - 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
$38,760
per year
Median Hourly
$18.64/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$39,530
average
Employment
9,000
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$38,760 Bottom 10% higher than 10% 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 Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at -11.7% growth and $38,760 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-11.7%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-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 Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
- ▸ Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
- ▸ Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
- ▸ Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Program electronic equipment.
- ▸ Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine set-up requirements.
- ▸ Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
- ▸ Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
- ▸ Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
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
$28,650
25th Percentile
$34,230
Median
$38,760
75th Percentile
$45,220
90th Percentile
$49,420
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 38 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $47,160 | +22% above national |
| 2 | New York | $46,810 | +21% above national |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $45,930 | +18% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $45,760 | +18% above national |
| 5 | Washington | $45,380 | +17% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $43,680 | +13% above national |
| 7 | North Carolina | $43,460 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Indiana | $41,740 | +8% above national |
| 9 | South Carolina | $41,740 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Ohio | $41,600 | +7% above national |
| 11 | Minnesota | $41,480 | +7% above national |
| 12 | New Jersey | $40,780 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $40,000 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Georgia | $39,840 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $39,630 | +2% above national |
| 16 | California | $38,870 | same as national |
| 17 | Illinois | $38,600 | same as national |
| 18 | Oregon | $38,460 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Mississippi | $37,600 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Louisiana | $37,490 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Arizona | $37,460 | 3% below national |
| 22 | Michigan | $37,280 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $37,110 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Colorado | $36,870 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Tennessee | $36,710 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $36,690 | 5% below national |
| 27 | Kansas | $35,930 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Florida | $35,680 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Alabama | $35,000 | 10% below national |
| 30 | Maryland | $34,890 | 10% below national |
| 31 | Virginia | $34,410 | 11% below national |
| 32 | Kentucky | $31,040 | 20% below national |
| 33 | Missouri | $30,540 | 21% below national |
| 34 | Texas | $30,160 | 22% below national |
| 35 | Iowa | $30,060 | 22% below national |
| 36 | Arkansas | $29,140 | 25% below national |
| 37 | Nevada | $28,630 | 26% below national |
| 38 | Puerto Rico | $22,880 | 41% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 45 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $49,390 | +27% above national |
| 2 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,640 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,220 | +17% above national |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $44,420 | +15% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $44,350 | +14% above national |
| 6 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $43,750 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,680 | +13% above national |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $43,680 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $43,300 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $42,100 | +9% above national |
| 11 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $41,470 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Knoxville, TN | $40,130 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $39,840 | +3% above national |
| 14 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $39,730 | +3% above national |
| 15 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $39,630 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $39,140 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $38,940 | same as national |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,740 | same as national |
| 19 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $38,710 | same as national |
| 20 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $38,630 | same as national |
| 21 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,600 | same as national |
| 22 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,520 | 1% below national |
| 23 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,460 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $38,200 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $38,110 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,860 | 2% below national |
| 27 | Dalton, GA | $37,820 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,780 | 3% below national |
| 29 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,600 | 3% below national |
| 30 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $37,460 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Spartanburg, SC | $37,300 | 4% below national |
| 32 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,230 | 4% below national |
| 33 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $37,210 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $35,500 | 8% below national |
| 35 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $35,390 | 9% below national |
| 36 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $34,650 | 11% below national |
| 37 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,250 | 12% below national |
| 38 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $33,630 | 13% below national |
| 39 | Fond du Lac, WI | $30,720 | 21% below national |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $30,000 | 23% below national |
| 41 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $29,540 | 24% below national |
| 42 | El Paso, TX | $29,300 | 24% below national |
| 43 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $28,990 | 25% below national |
| 44 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $27,420 | 29% below national |
| 45 | Mayaguez, PR | $22,330 | 42% 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 Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make? ▼
What state pays Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? ▼
How dangerous is being a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? ▼
Is Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a good career? ▼
How does Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $45,220/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: Connecticut leads at $47,160/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.