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.

The U.S. Department Labor reports that textile manufacturing workers earned the following median salaries by specialty in 2024. The median annual wage for all workers was $49,500.

• textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders: $38,260
• textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders: $37,660
• textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders: $37,320
• textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders: $37,940

Overall, textile, apparel, and furnishing workers earned salaries that ranged from $20,000 or less to $50,000 or more.

Textile employees with supervisory responsibilities can make more than $60,000 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.