How much does a textile knitting and weaving machine setter make?
The median textile knitting and weaving machine setter in the United States earns $39,530 per year, about $19.01 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all textile knitting and weaving machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-6063.
Textile knitting and weaving machine setter salary range
Pay for textile knitting and weaving machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $29,960 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $49,130. The average (mean) wage of $40,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,960 | $14.40 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,390 | $17.50 | |
| Median (50th) | $39,530 | $19.01 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $45,220 | $21.74 | |
| 90th percentile | $49,130 | $23.62 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-6063), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Textile knitting and weaving machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters earn the most in New York at $49,570 a year, and the least in Tennessee at $33,550. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $49,570 | 230 |
| New Hampshire | $48,440 | 70 |
| Maine | $48,350 | 160 |
| Washington | $48,220 | 110 |
| Minnesota | $46,430 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $45,610 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,580 | 510 |
| Ohio | $45,040 | 60 |
| California | $44,530 | 590 |
| Massachusetts | $44,190 | 180 |
| Illinois | $42,950 | 70 |
| Georgia | $40,930 | 3,550 |
| South Carolina | $39,760 | 1,500 |
| Virginia | $39,470 | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $38,760 | 250 |
| Michigan | $38,120 | 90 |
| Alabama | $37,340 | 770 |
| Indiana | $37,160 | 50 |
| Louisiana | $36,860 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $36,850 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $36,700 | 2,730 |
| Mississippi | $35,370 | 110 |
| Texas | $34,790 | 170 |
| Iowa | $33,730 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $33,550 | 380 |
State median wages for textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-6063), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for textile knitting and weaving machine setters
The BLS projects employment of textile knitting and weaving machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 13,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 12,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,300 openings a year for textile knitting and weaving machine setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a textile knitting and weaving machine setter
The typical entry-level education for textile knitting and weaving machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a textile knitting and weaving machine setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $49,570) and the lowest (Tennessee, $33,550) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 13,030 people work as textile knitting and weaving machine setters in the United States. At $39,530 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Textile knitting and weaving machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a textile knitting and weaving machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a textile knitting and weaving machine setter is $19.01. The middle half of textile knitting and weaving machine setters earn between $17.50 and $21.74 per hour.
What is the highest textile knitting and weaving machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of textile knitting and weaving machine setters earn more than $49,130 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a textile knitting and weaving machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a textile knitting and weaving machine setter is $39,530. The average (mean) wage of $40,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a textile knitting and weaving machine setter a well paid job?
At $39,530 a year, a textile knitting and weaving machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 13,030 people work as textile knitting and weaving machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays textile knitting and weaving machine setters the most?
New York has the highest median salary for textile knitting and weaving machine setters at $49,570 a year. New Hampshire ($48,440) and Maine ($48,350) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a textile knitting and weaving machine setter a good career?
Employment of textile knitting and weaving machine setters is projected to shrink 13.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a textile knitting and weaving machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for textile knitting and weaving machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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