Textile Manufacturing Workers

Earnings of textile industry workers vary depending on the type of plant where they are employed and the workers' job responsibilities, the shift they work, and seniority. Workers at plants located in the North tend to be paid more than those in the South.

In May 2019, textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders earned median wages of $11.75 an hour (or $26,520 annually). Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders earned a median wage of $11.80 an hour ($26,130 annually). Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders earned a median wage of $13.33 an hour ($28,670 yearly). Median hourly earnings for textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders were $13.72 (or $29,440 annually). Overall, textile, apparel, and furnishing workers earned salaries that ranged from $20,180 or less to $46,500 or more in May 2019. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers who worked at textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating mills earned a mean wage of $15.04 an hour ($31,280 annually). Textile employees with supervisory responsibilities can make more than $50,000 a year. Most workers with a year or more of service receive paid vacations and insurance benefits. Many are able to participate in pension plans, profit sharing, or year-end bonuses. Some companies offer their employees discounts on the textiles or textile products they sell.