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Skilled Trades

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 salary (BLS)

$38,670

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$32k – $49k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Entry / Junior

    $31,790

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Established

    $38,670

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Senior

    $44,045

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.