How much does a textile worker make?
a year · about $18 an hour
A typical textile worker in the United States makes $37,280 a year, about $18 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Depending on the specialty, a textile worker may guide fabric through a sewing machine to join pieces or repair a seam. They load materials, adjust or clean the machine, and remove the finished item.
Did you know? Surprise: some U.S. apparel factories knit the fabric first, then cut and sew it into clothes—all in the same manufacturing operation.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $31,270 and $52,730How do you become one?
In the U.S., the usual entry path is a high school diploma or equivalent; related job experience is typically not required. Employers provide short-term on-the-job training, so new workers learn the specific work at the job.
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, useful skills, and sought-after certificates can help textile workers earn more. Pay also varies by employer or industry, location, and the kind and responsibility of the work; overtime or shift premiums can change take-home pay.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($67,890), lowest in North Dakota ($29,100).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,270 | $37,280 | $52,730 | about 14,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $67,890 | about 120 |
| Maine | $55,160 | about 100 |
| New York | $54,040 | about 250 |
| New Hampshire | $45,650 | about 320 |
| Oklahoma | $45,020 | about 60 |
Official definition: All textile, apparel, and furnishings workers not listed separately.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-6099.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes516099.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-6031.00
- www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag315.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY