Updated for 2026

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary in 2026

This Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary guide for 2026 centers on Careerclev's modeled national salary benchmark, built from the latest official BLS wage baseline and extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. It covers average salary, hourly pay, experience bands, salary by city, salary by state, industry premiums, in-demand skills, and long-term job outlook so readers can compare what drives higher compensation. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders".

Last updated: 202614,530 employment estimateFull salary breakdown12 min read
Average Salary
$36.5K
per year (USA)
Entry Level
$28.3K
starting range
Senior Level
$42.2K
upper percentile
Top Earners
$51.4K+
lead / principal
Hourly Rate
$18
avg. equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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What Does a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Earn?

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter pay at $36,525.0 per year in the United States. On the latest official 2024 BLS wage baseline, the lower end of the Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary range starts around $29,640.0, while experienced professionals and top earners can reach $48,070.0 or more.

That national figure is only the starting point. In practice, pay for this role changes quickly once location, industry, experience level, and specialization enter the picture. A Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter working in Wisconsin or a stronger salary industry like Manufacturing may see a very different salary path than someone in a lower-cost market, especially when skills like role-specific skills and advanced tools define the role.

Key 2026 BenchmarkThe national median Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary is $36,525.0, with an estimated hourly equivalent of $18.

What Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Professionals Do

Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles.

Typical Responsibilities

Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
Core
Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
Core
Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
Core
Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
Core
Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
Core
Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
Core
Related job titlesKnitter, Knitting Machine Operator, Loom Fixer, Machine Operator, Operator, Tufting Machine Operator

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary by Experience Level

Experience is one of the strongest salary drivers for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter roles. Entry-level workers usually sit closer to the lower salary band while senior, lead, and principal-level professionals move into higher ranges as they take on ownership, decision-making, mentoring, and more specialized work.

That progression matters because the headline median can hide how wide the real pay ladder is. For some roles, early-career pay stays close to the middle; for others, the gap between first-job pay and senior pay is large enough to change how attractive the path looks over time.

LevelExperienceAvg. Base SalaryEstimated Total PayGrowth vs Previous
Entry Level Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter0-2 years$28,258.0$29.7K - $34.6KN/A
Mid Level Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter3-5 years$36,563.0$35.9K - $46.0K+29.4%
Senior Level Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter6-10 years$42,196.0$41.3K - $51.9K+15.4%
Lead / Principal Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter10+ years$45,919.0$49.4K - $60.1K+8.8%
How to read the experience tableThe cards show the quick salary story, while the table gives a more detailed view of how Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setterpay can move from entry-level work into senior and lead responsibility.

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary by City

City salary differences matter because Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter jobs are tied to local employer demand, cost of living, and industry concentration. Markets like Wisconsin and Reading, PA can pay very differently even when the job title looks the same on paper.

That is why city pages are often more useful than national averages once you are actively job searching. They show whether a stronger nominal salary comes from a genuinely better market, a more specialized employer mix, or simply a more expensive metro.

United States — City Comparison

CityProjected SalaryVs. National BenchmarkCost of Living Signal
Wisconsin$65,820.0+80%High salary market
Reading, PA$64,540.0+77%High salary market
Minneapolis, MN$51,890.0+42%High salary market
Mississippi$49,720.0+36%High salary market
New York$47,970.0+31%High salary market
Boston, MA$47,610.0+30%High salary market
Maine$47,320.0+30%High salary market
New Hampshire$47,170.0+29%High salary market
Washington$46,700.0+28%High salary market
New York, NY$45,260.0+24%High salary market
City salary pictureA higher Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary in a major metro does not always mean higher take-home value. Housing, taxes, commuting, and remote-work flexibility can change the real outcome.
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Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary by Industry

Industry can change a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary as much as geography. Employers in Manufacturing may pay more when the role sits close to revenue, regulated operations, complex infrastructure, or scarce technical expertise.

IndustryProjected SalaryBonus PotentialJob SecurityGrowth Pace
Manufacturing$38,280.0HighStrongFast
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$35,430.0HighStrongFast
Wholesale Trade$35,260.0HighStrongFast

The strongest-paying industries for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter roles usually combine higher budgets with urgent business needs. Use this table to compare not only salary, but also the tradeoff between upside, stability, and long-term growth.

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary by Skill Specialization

Skills shape salary because they tell employers what kind of problems a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter can solve. Strong signals around role-specific skills, advanced tools, tools, platforms, analysis, communication, and domain knowledge can help candidates move from average pay into stronger compensation bands.

Common tool stackO*NET maps Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter work to tools such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Office software.
role-specific skills can raise the ceilingThe most valuable Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter skills are the ones connected to business-critical work, scarce tools, and hard-to-fill responsibilities. Pairing role-specific skills with advanced tools can make a candidate easier to price at the top of the salary range.

Remote vs Onsite vs Hybrid — Salary Comparison

Remote, onsite, and hybrid pay can shift the salary story for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter jobs. Remote roles often widen the hiring market, while onsite roles may pay more in expensive metros when employers need local availability, team coverage, or specialized workplace access.

Work TypeAvg. BaseExperienceBenefitsFlexibility
Remote Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter$36,525.0Market dependentVariableHigh
Hybrid Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter$37,620.8Metro dependentStrongMedium
Onsite Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter$36,890.3Location dependentStrongLower

Hybrid roles can carry a small premium in high-cost cities, while fully remote roles can be especially powerful for workers outside the most expensive labor markets. The best comparison is total pay after location, taxes, commuting, and lifestyle costs.

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How to Become a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter

The most common path into Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter work is to pair the expected baseline education with early hands-on practice and proof that you can handle the core responsibilities of the role. Candidates move faster when they can connect training, projects, internships, or prior adjacent work to the exact kinds of tasks employers hire textile knitting and weaving machine setter professionals to do.

If you want the fuller step-by-step version, open the full How to Become a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter guide.

Practical shortcutThe strongest early candidates for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter jobs usually show job-relevant work samples, clear fundamentals, and evidence that they can contribute with limited supervision.
Knowledge areas employers associate with this roleProduction and Processing, English Language, Mechanical, and Education and Training.

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Work Environment

Work environment can shape job fit just as much as salary. For Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter, the day-to-day experience may vary based on employer type, digital vs on-site workflows, collaboration intensity, schedule predictability, and how much independent judgment the role requires.

Common work-style signalsO*NET highlights Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, and Stress Tolerance for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter work.
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

Entry-Level Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary Expectations

Entry-level Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary expectations should be viewed as a starting range, not a ceiling. New workers in this role often earn around $28,258.0, with pay rising as they build practical experience, stronger judgment, better tools, and a clearer track record of delivering work without close supervision.

Internship / Trainee
$14/hr
$21.2K - $32.5K annualized
Early practical exposure, supervised assignments, portfolio building, and conversion into a first full-time role.
New Grad / Junior
$28.3K
$28.3K - $32.9K base
First full-time Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter roles reward candidates who can show useful work, reliable fundamentals, and coachability.

Typical Promotion Timeline

Promotions usually follow the move from supervised work to independent delivery, then to broader ownership. Switching employers can sometimes accelerate salary growth when the current role has a narrow pay band.

StageTypical TimelineSalary JumpKey Milestone
Intern → JuniorInternship → first role$5.1K - $9.0KFirst full-time offer
Junior → Mid18-30 months$4.4K - $8.0KDeliver work independently
Mid → Senior2-4 years$5.1K - $9.3KOwn larger outcomes
Senior → Lead3-6 years$5.5K - $11.5KInfluence teams or strategy

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Career Progression & Salary Path

This step is useful because experience level and career progression are related, but not identical. The pay path below shows how compensation tends to widen as the work moves from narrower execution into broader ownership and leadership scope.

1
Intern / Trainee
$22.2K$29.8K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
2
Junior
$27.5K$36.3K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$34.4K$42.9K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
4
Senior
$41.3K$53.6K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
5
Lead
$49.0K$62.0K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$57.4K$78.4K
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter compensation at this stage usually reflects broader responsibility, stronger judgment, and more independent ownership of outcomes.

Factors That Affect a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter's Salary

A Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary is rarely determined by job title alone. Employers also price the role based on education, certifications, tools used, industry setting, workplace responsibility, and how difficult it is to find qualified candidates with the same mix of skills.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Job Demand & Market Outlook

The Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter job outlook matters because demand affects hiring, salary growth, and how much leverage qualified workers have. The current projection points to -11.2% employment change from 2024 to 2034, which helps explain whether employers are likely to keep competing for qualified talent.

Salary is easier to interpret when it sits next to a demand signal. Strong wages in a shrinking field can tell a very different story from strong wages in a role where openings, replacement demand, and market expansion are all still active.

BLS Employment ProjectionEmployment is projected to change by -11.2% from 2024 to 2034.
DecliningAnnual openings: 1.7 thousand.
Metric2026 Status
Projected employment15.3k → 13.6k
Typical educationUsually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Related experienceSome occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Remote job availabilityMeaningful for roles with portable work and digital workflows
Salary market signalMedian pay of $36,525.0 suggests a solid compensation track.

How to Increase Your Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter Salary

The most reliable way to increase a Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary is to make your value easier for employers to measure. That usually means building stronger evidence around outcomes, expanding into higher-value skills, moving toward better-paying industries, and negotiating with current market salary data in hand.

StrategyAvg. Salary ImpactTimelineEffort Level
Benchmark against stronger markets+15-30%1-3 monthsHigh ROI
Build a visible specialization$4.4K - $10.2K3-9 monthsMedium
Target higher-paying industries$2.9K - $6.6K2-6 monthsMedium
The fastest salary liftFor many Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter professionals, the fastest path is a focused mix of stronger proof, higher-value skills, and better market selection. Salary gains usually come faster when candidates combine a clear portfolio with targeted applications and negotiation.

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter vs Similar Career Salaries

Comparing Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter salary with Nuclear Power Reactor Operator and other nearby careers helps show whether this job title is underpaid, fairly priced, or part of a stronger salary path. These comparisons are useful when choosing between roles, planning a career move, or deciding which skills to build next.

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Frequently Asked Questions

These questions usually come up after readers compare the national salary, experience bands, and city differences. Together they clarify how to read the salary data and what to pay attention to when you compare this role with nearby careers.

What is the average Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
The latest national baseline for Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders is about $38,300 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
Entry-level estimates for Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $29,600 per year nationally.
How much can senior Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders professionals earn?
Senior Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $44,200 per year nationally.
Does location affect Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Textile Knitting & Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, & Tenders salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
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Data Sources & Methodology
Updated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
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