How much does a textile cutting machine setter make?
The median textile cutting machine setter in the United States earns $37,940 per year, about $18.24 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all textile cutting machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 51-6062.
Textile cutting machine setter salary range
Pay for textile cutting machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,230 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $49,080. The average (mean) wage of $38,500 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 | $27,230 | $13.09 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $32,380 | $15.57 | |
| Median (50th) | $37,940 | $18.24 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $43,710 | $21.01 | |
| 90th percentile | $49,080 | $23.60 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-6062), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Textile cutting machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Textile cutting machine setters earn the most in New York at $45,960 a year, and the least in Kentucky at $26,300. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $45,960 | 290 |
| Connecticut | $42,590 | 60 |
| Minnesota | $41,600 | 90 |
| Georgia | $40,830 | 1,380 |
| South Carolina | $40,560 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $40,350 | 80 |
| Washington | $40,120 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $39,240 | 260 |
| North Carolina | $38,850 | 980 |
| Oregon | $38,830 | 130 |
| Ohio | $38,540 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $38,500 | 370 |
| California | $38,280 | 880 |
| Mississippi | $38,160 | 410 |
| Illinois | $37,850 | 230 |
| Arizona | $37,660 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $37,500 | 220 |
| Indiana | $37,480 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,890 | 210 |
| Virginia | $36,520 | 80 |
| Florida | $36,350 | 390 |
| Michigan | $36,080 | 100 |
| Maine | $35,140 | 30 |
| Maryland | $33,950 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $33,570 | 190 |
| Nevada | $33,280 | N/A |
| Arkansas | $32,240 | 50 |
| Iowa | $31,900 | 100 |
| Alabama | $31,810 | 130 |
| Kansas | $31,570 | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $29,510 | 50 |
| Texas | $28,300 | 740 |
| Missouri | $28,120 | 140 |
| Kentucky | $26,300 | 60 |
State median wages for textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-6062), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for textile cutting machine setters
The BLS projects employment of textile cutting machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.6%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 9,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 8,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 900 openings a year for textile cutting 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 cutting machine setter
The typical entry-level education for textile cutting machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-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 cutting 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, $45,960) and the lowest (Kentucky, $26,300) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 8,960 people work as textile cutting machine setters in the United States. At $37,940 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Textile cutting machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a textile cutting machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a textile cutting machine setter is $18.24. The middle half of textile cutting machine setters earn between $15.57 and $21.01 per hour.
What is the highest textile cutting machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of textile cutting machine setters earn more than $49,080 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a textile cutting machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a textile cutting machine setter is $37,940. The average (mean) wage of $38,500 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 cutting machine setter a well paid job?
At $37,940 a year, a textile cutting machine setter earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 8,960 people work as textile cutting machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays textile cutting machine setters the most?
New York has the highest median salary for textile cutting machine setters at $45,960 a year. Connecticut ($42,590) and Minnesota ($41,600) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a textile cutting machine setter a good career?
Employment of textile cutting machine setters is projected to shrink 13.6% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a textile cutting machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for textile cutting machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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