Textile Machine Operator

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Work Tasks

• Run machines which make fabric and textile material
• Start, stop, and clean machines
• Watch machines to make sure they are working correctly
• Fix breaks in the yarn and put more yarn in the machine as needed
• Work for weaving, finishing, yarn, thread, and knitting mills, and manufactured fiber producers
• Work with textile machinery, fibers, yarns, hand tools, computers, and woven, knitted, and tufted textiles

Salary, Size & Growth

• $28,500 average per year ($13.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (90,000 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (3.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A high school diploma
• Employers Prefer: Training in textiles and apparel
• Skills/Courses: Courses in fabrics, sewing, machine shop, applied math, and computers.