Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

Also Known As:

Automated Cutting Machine Operator CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator) Cutter Cutter Operator Die Cut Operator Fabric Cutter Laser Operator Spread Cutter Spreader Textile Slitting Machine Operator

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

8,200

-12% Change From 2024

Explore Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles, to set up machinery for operation.
Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles, to set up machinery for operation.
Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine set-up requirements.
Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters, or computer numerically controlled cutting devices.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Record information about work completed and machine settings.
Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine set-up requirements.
Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters, or computer numerically controlled cutting devices.
Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Program electronic equipment.
Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles, to set up machinery for operation.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.