Production
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines that wind or twist textiles; or draw out and combine sliver, such as wool, hemp, or synthetic fibers. Includes slubber machine and drawing frame operators.
Median pay
$38,670
Growth to 2035
−10%
declining
Openings a year
2,400
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders: 23% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
- Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
- Start machines, monitor operation, and make adjustments as needed.
- Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
- Record production data such as numbers and types of bobbins wound.
- Replace depleted supply packages with full packages.
- Stop machines when specified amount of products has been produced.
- Inspect products to verify that they meet specifications and to determine whether machine adjustment is needed.
Also called: Back Winder · Cable Operator · Computer Integrated Manufacturing Operator (CIM Operator) · Drawing Operator · Line Operator · Spinner · Spinning Operator · Twister Operator
Outlook and AI
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders held 23,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 21,000 by 2035 (−10%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
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