How much does a weaving operator make?
a year · about $19 an hour
A typical weaving operator in the United States makes $39,530 a year, about $19 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They thread yarn through guides and rollers, start the loom, and watch the cloth take shape, checking for flaws. If a loom stops, they look for broken threads or mechanical trouble, adjust the machine, and inspect the fabric again.
Did you know? A weaver may watch a whole group of looms at once, scanning the growing cloth for tiny flaws.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $29,960 and $49,130How do you become one?
Most employers look for a high school diploma or GED, though some may hire without one. New workers learn the mill’s machines on the job; an apprenticeship may be available for specialties such as loom fixing.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can rise with experience and useful machine skills, such as setting up or troubleshooting looms. It also varies by employer or textile industry and by location, where local demand and living costs differ.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New York ($49,570), lowest in Tennessee ($33,550).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29,960 | $39,530 | $49,130 | about 13,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $49,570 | about 230 |
| New Hampshire | $48,440 | about 70 |
| Maine | $48,350 | about 160 |
| Washington | $48,220 | about 110 |
| Minnesota | $46,430 | about 50 |
Official definition: Set up, operate, or tend machines that knit, loop, weave, or draw in textiles. Excludes “Sewing Machine Operators” (51-6031).
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.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-6063.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/51-6063.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes516063.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ocs/additional-resources/f739-knitting-looping-taping-and-weaving-ma
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY