Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (SOC 51-6064) earn a median $38,670 a year ($18.59 an hour) in the United States, with 22,020 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Virginia.
What textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders do
Textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine operators wind, twist, or draw out and combine textile materials. Winding machines transfer yarn onto bobbins and other supply packages, twisting machines twist strands together, and drawing frames draw out and combine slivers of wool, hemp, or synthetic fiber. The SOC definition includes slubber and drawing frame operators. The operator threads yarn through guides, needles, and rollers, starts the machine, and monitors it, replacing depleted supply packages with full ones so that production continues. The operator inspects the equipment to judge whether repairs are needed, then notifies supervisors or mechanics about malfunctions. Counts of bobbins wound and other production data are recorded. Machines are stopped when the specified amount of product has been produced. Workers who run knitting and weaving machines are classified in a different occupation.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, less than a high school diploma is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Automatic Beam Warper Tender, Automatic Quilling Machine Operator, Automatic Thread Winder, Automatic Winder Operator, Axminster Rug Setter.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.29 | $17.51 | $18.59 | $20.65 | $23.76 | $19.29 | 22,020 |
| Annual | $31,790 | $36,420 | $38,670 | $42,940 | $49,420 | $40,120 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $17.79 | $19.27 | $24.41 | $27.54 | $28.20 | $23.51 | 1,530 | 0.37 | 2.63 |
| Annual | $36,990 | $40,080 | $50,770 | $57,280 | $58,660 | $48,900 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $14.83 | $17.04 | $23.89 | $23.89 | $26.12 | $21.35 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.42 |
| Annual | $30,840 | $35,430 | $49,690 | $49,690 | $54,320 | $44,400 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $23.06 | $23.65 | $23.65 | $29.13 | $29.13 | $25.62 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $47,960 | $49,190 | $49,190 | $60,590 | $60,590 | $53,280 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.38 | $19.06 | $22.87 | $23.50 | $26.54 | $22.20 | 250 | 0.07 | 0.49 |
| Annual | $38,240 | $39,630 | $47,560 | $48,870 | $55,210 | $46,180 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $17.80 | $19.05 | $22.71 | $23.33 | $25.25 | $21.70 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| Annual | $37,030 | $39,630 | $47,230 | $48,520 | $52,510 | $45,130 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $16.79 | $17.86 | $18.72 | $19.19 | $21.44 | $18.80 | 8,830 | 1.81 | 12.75 |
| Annual | $34,920 | $37,160 | $38,930 | $39,900 | $44,600 | $39,110 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.60 | $15.66 | $17.59 | $18.54 | $21.22 | $17.75 | 4,190 | 0.85 | 5.98 |
| Annual | $30,370 | $32,580 | $36,580 | $38,570 | $44,130 | $36,920 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $16.02 | $17.55 | $18.40 | $20.23 | $23.09 | $19.28 | 2,240 | 0.97 | 6.88 |
| Annual | $33,330 | $36,500 | $38,280 | $42,070 | $48,020 | $40,100 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $17.79 | $19.27 | $24.41 | $27.54 | $28.20 | $23.51 | 1,530 | 0.37 | 2.63 |
| Annual | $36,990 | $40,080 | $50,770 | $57,280 | $58,660 | $48,900 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $16.39 | $17.21 | $19.33 | $20.12 | $24.45 | $19.43 | 1,060 | 0.50 | 3.54 |
| Annual | $34,100 | $35,790 | $40,210 | $41,850 | $50,850 | $40,410 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | Hourly | $14.62 | $14.62 | $26.13 | $27.13 | $27.13 | $21.97 | 60 | 0.06 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $30,400 | $30,410 | $54,350 | $56,430 | $56,430 | $45,690 | ||||
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | Hourly | $19.27 | $19.27 | $22.96 | $24.41 | $27.18 | $22.58 | 250 | 2.12 | 15.00 |
| Annual | $40,080 | $40,080 | $47,750 | $50,770 | $56,540 | $46,970 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.46 | $19.05 | $22.71 | $23.46 | $25.73 | $22.09 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Annual | $36,330 | $39,630 | $47,230 | $48,790 | $53,520 | $45,960 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.42 | $18.50 | $21.09 | $21.44 | $22.11 | $20.41 | 1,110 | 0.39 | 2.72 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $38,480 | $43,870 | $44,600 | $45,980 | $42,440 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.50 | $18.52 | $20.83 | $21.75 | $22.72 | $20.50 | 230 | 0.04 | 0.25 |
| Annual | $36,390 | $38,520 | $43,330 | $45,230 | $47,250 | $42,640 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dalton, GA | Hourly | $16.64 | $18.00 | $18.59 | $18.91 | $20.16 | $18.45 | 3,370 | 51.62 | 364.53 |
| Annual | $34,620 | $37,440 | $38,670 | $39,340 | $41,930 | $38,380 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $15.23 | $15.66 | $17.69 | $20.97 | $22.48 | $18.30 | 1,270 | 0.93 | 6.58 |
| Annual | $31,680 | $32,580 | $36,800 | $43,620 | $46,750 | $38,060 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.42 | $18.50 | $21.09 | $21.44 | $22.11 | $20.41 | 1,110 | 0.39 | 2.72 |
| Annual | $36,230 | $38,480 | $43,870 | $44,600 | $45,980 | $42,440 | ||||
| Winston-Salem, NC | Hourly | $15.11 | $17.32 | $17.82 | $18.47 | $21.22 | $18.15 | 780 | 2.88 | 20.31 |
| Annual | $31,430 | $36,020 | $37,070 | $38,420 | $44,130 | $37,750 | ||||
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | Hourly | $14.60 | $15.42 | $17.93 | $18.23 | $21.17 | $17.55 | 620 | 1.69 | 11.94 |
| Annual | $30,370 | $32,070 | $37,290 | $37,920 | $44,040 | $36,510 | ||||
Top industries employing textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders
Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills employ 34.7% of textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders nationally (7,650 jobs) at a median $37,710 a year ($18.13 an hour), followed by Textile Furnishings Mills (22.3%) and Fabric Mills (20.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills NAICS 313100 | 7,650 | 34.7% | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills NAICS 314100 | 4,910 | 22.3% | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Fabric Mills NAICS 313200 | 4,490 | 20.4% | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) NAICS 3250A1 | 1,980 | 9.0% | $51,160 | $24.60 |
| Other Textile Product Mills NAICS 314900 | 1,250 | 5.7% | $39,720 | $19.10 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (22,020). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $30,020 for textile winding, twisting, and drawing out machine setters, operators, and tenders in May 2021 and $38,670 in May 2025, with employment of 22,160 and 22,020.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $30,020 | $14.44 | 22,160 |
| May 2022 | $33,720 | $16.21 | 23,830 |
| May 2023 | $35,530 | $17.08 | 23,550 |
| May 2024 | $37,660 | $18.11 | 20,600 |
| May 2025 | $38,670 | $18.59 | 22,020 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
26 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia profile | $24.41 | $50,770 | $36,990 | $58,660 | 1,530 | 0.37 | 2.63 |
| 2 | Louisiana profile | $23.89 | $49,690 | $30,840 | $54,320 | 110 | 0.06 | 0.42 |
| 3 | New Hampshire profile | $23.65 | $49,190 | $47,960 | $60,590 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| 4 | Washington profile | $22.87 | $47,560 | $38,240 | $55,210 | 250 | 0.07 | 0.49 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $22.71 | $47,230 | $37,030 | $52,510 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| 6 | Tennessee profile | $22.46 | $46,720 | $31,150 | $62,880 | 470 | 0.15 | 1.02 |
| 7 | Connecticut profile | $21.17 | $44,020 | $34,010 | $51,190 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.16 |
| 8 | California profile | $21.05 | $43,770 | $35,560 | $53,240 | 360 | 0.02 | 0.14 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $19.65 | $40,870 | $36,260 | $47,860 | 100 | 0.16 | 1.12 |
| 10 | Indiana profile | $19.53 | $40,630 | $35,670 | $62,610 | 230 | 0.07 | 0.50 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $19.36 | $40,270 | $35,560 | $47,320 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.34 |
| 12 | Alabama profile | $19.33 | $40,210 | $34,100 | $50,850 | 1,060 | 0.50 | 3.54 |
| 13 | Missouri profile | $18.92 | $39,350 | $34,440 | $43,690 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Georgia profile | $18.72 | $38,930 | $34,920 | $44,600 | 8,830 | 1.81 | 12.75 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $18.67 | $38,830 | $27,750 | $46,970 | 500 | 0.08 | 0.58 |
| 16 | South Carolina profile | $18.40 | $38,280 | $33,330 | $48,020 | 2,240 | 0.97 | 6.88 |
| 17 | Ohio profile | $18.34 | $38,160 | $30,400 | $56,430 | 150 | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| 18 | Colorado profile | $18.05 | $37,540 | $37,540 | $37,910 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| 19 | Mississippi profile | $18.01 | $37,460 | $28,040 | $66,720 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.50 |
| 20 | Rhode Island profile | $17.98 | $37,400 | $35,360 | $44,450 | 240 | 0.49 | 3.44 |
| 21 | New York profile | $17.90 | $37,220 | $32,240 | $50,580 | 160 | 0.02 | 0.12 |
| 22 | Illinois profile | $17.77 | $36,950 | $31,200 | $54,870 | 180 | 0.03 | 0.20 |
| 23 | Nebraska profile | $17.67 | $36,760 | $28,500 | $47,970 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.30 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $17.59 | $36,580 | $30,370 | $44,130 | 4,190 | 0.85 | 5.98 |
| 25 | Michigan profile | $17.57 | $36,540 | $30,410 | $43,150 | 130 | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $17.39 | $36,160 | $31,030 | $45,460 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.05 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-6060), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-6064 Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-6064, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6064.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.