What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the U.S. earn more than $39,530 a year — the middle 80% land between $29,960 and $49,130. About 13,030 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$39,530typical pay / year
13,030people in this work
$49,130+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing2
Inspect machinery for repairs or malfunctions
+Walk the production row and inspect the 12 circular knitting machines that showed vibration on last shift,…
Inspect machinery for repairs or malfunctions
+Walk the production row and inspect the 12 circular knitting machines that showed vibration on last shift, note any broken cams, needles, or drive belts, take photos of each fault, test run at low speed, and prepare a repair list for maintenance by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Notify supervisors or repair staff of issues
+Tell supervisors and the repair crew that machine 7 and the east warper are stopping for a broken guide and…
Notify supervisors or repair staff of issues
+Tell supervisors and the repair crew that machine 7 and the east warper are stopping for a broken guide and low yarn count: include fault photos, estimated downtime of two hours, and ask for on‑site support to arrive within the next 45 minutes.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Analysing1
Inspect woven cloth for defects
+Unroll the latest grey woven batch on the inspection table, scan both faces over five meters for loom…
Inspect woven cloth for defects
+Unroll the latest grey woven batch on the inspection table, scan both faces over five meters for loom streaks, slubs, or broken picks, mark defects with chalk and record roll numbers and defect type in a short report to quality by end of shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Make2
Set up machines for knitting and weaving
+Set up the east bay knitting and weaving line for the new cotton jersey order: fit the correct needle…
Set up machines for knitting and weaving
+Set up the east bay knitting and weaving line for the new cotton jersey order: fit the correct needle cylinder, tension the feeders to 18 grams, load the warp sheet per spec, run a 10‑minute sample, and record machine settings and sample weight before production start.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Thread yarn, fabric, and guides through machines
+Thread the new cone yarn, the selvage guides, and the centre warp through the knitting head and tensioners…
Thread yarn, fabric, and guides through machines
+Thread the new cone yarn, the selvage guides, and the centre warp through the knitting head and tensioners for batch 342, check each guide path at the feeder and needle zone, then run a slow threading pass and confirm even feed before approving production.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
The daily work15
Adjust machine settings for quality control
+Adjust the machine settings on loom 14 to eliminate edge curl: reduce feed tension by two units, increase…
Adjust machine settings for quality control
+Adjust the machine settings on loom 14 to eliminate edge curl: reduce feed tension by two units, increase take‑down speed by 5 percent, run three test meters and measure GSM and stitch density, then log the results and sign off if within tolerance.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Remove defects from cloth by cutting or pulling
+Remove visible ladders and snags from the panel of jersey being finished on Line 3 by picking out broken…
Remove defects from cloth by cutting or pulling
+Remove visible ladders and snags from the panel of jersey being finished on Line 3 by picking out broken loops or cutting back to secure stitches, then re-tension the surrounding yarns so the repair sits flat to the fabric face.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
+Walk the 7am shift handover to talk through the three urgent orders, note machine set differences and the…
Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
+Walk the 7am shift handover to talk through the three urgent orders, note machine set differences and the repeated collar curl problem on Machine 5, collect their measurements and suggested adjustments, and write the agreed actions on the shopboard before leaving.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Program electronic equipment.
+Load the stitch map and yarn tension profile for the new rib design, set the carriage timings to the…
Program electronic equipment.
+Load the stitch map and yarn tension profile for the new rib design, set the carriage timings to the specified counts, run a 30‑second pattern dry cycle to confirm gauge and save the program under the order number if stitches and tensions match the sample.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
+Replace the bent latch needles on Cylinder B, inspect and swap any worn sinkers and cam guides, tidy filings…
Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
+Replace the bent latch needles on Cylinder B, inspect and swap any worn sinkers and cam guides, tidy filings from the bed, then run a slow spool to confirm no skipped stitches before returning the machine to production.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.
+Thoroughly clean the yarn feeders and guide tracks on Frame 2 with solvent and rags, apply light oil to…
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.
+Thoroughly clean the yarn feeders and guide tracks on Frame 2 with solvent and rags, apply light oil to bearings and a smear of grease to the main gearbox, wipe excess, then run five minutes at low speed to check for noise or overheating.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Start machines and monitor operations
+Start up Knitting Machine 10 using the standard sequence, set the yarn feeds to the order's count, monitor…
Start machines and monitor operations
+Start up Knitting Machine 10 using the standard sequence, set the yarn feeds to the order's count, monitor tension and stitch formation closely for the first ten minutes, and stop immediately if any repeating defect appears so we can adjust before the run continues.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Manufacture weft knitted fabrics
+Run the production plan for the new scarf batch: calculate yarn requirements by gauge and width, set machine…
Manufacture weft knitted fabrics
+Run the production plan for the new scarf batch: calculate yarn requirements by gauge and width, set machine run lengths and tension settings for the 12-gauge weft knit, schedule yarn creel changes for Tuesday shift, and list QC checks before first roll.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Measure yarn count
+Record yarn samples from cone A12 and A13, perform wrap-and-weigh tests to determine count, enter raw…
Measure yarn count
+Record yarn samples from cone A12 and A13, perform wrap-and-weigh tests to determine count, enter raw measurements, calculate Tex and Ne, note humidity and any slubting, and produce a one-page summary for the lab and production foreman.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Use digital information technology (CAD) for patterning
+Create a graded digital stitch pattern for the new merino cardigan, check loop counts against the lab's yarn…
Use digital information technology (CAD) for patterning
+Create a graded digital stitch pattern for the new merino cardigan, check loop counts against the lab's yarn count table, export the pattern sheets and schematics so the sampler can load them to the knitting machine this afternoon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Work in cooperation with physical laboratory technicians
+Draft a one-page handover with batch yarn counts, machine settings and sample defects, attach the latest lab…
Work in cooperation with physical laboratory technicians
+Draft a one-page handover with batch yarn counts, machine settings and sample defects, attach the latest lab test results and send it to Priya in the lab and to Ramesh on production so they run the tensile and pilling checks before the noon shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Ensure error free knitted fabrics
+Run a defect log for the last three runs, list defect type, row and machine, cross-check against yarn count…
Ensure error free knitted fabrics
+Run a defect log for the last three runs, list defect type, row and machine, cross-check against yarn count and tension records, then produce a corrective action checklist and circulate it to floor supervisors for immediate implementation.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Be responsible for highest productivity rates
+Compile hourly output and downtime for each knitting head for the week, calculate units per operator and…
Be responsible for highest productivity rates
+Compile hourly output and downtime for each knitting head for the week, calculate units per operator and identify the three biggest bottlenecks, then email the productivity brief to Ajay and the shift leaders with recommended countermeasures.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookESCO
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Use weft preparation technologies
+Prepare the setup checklist and tension tables for cone creel and feeder settings, include target yarn…
Use weft preparation technologies
+Prepare the setup checklist and tension tables for cone creel and feeder settings, include target yarn tension and needle gauge per style, print the sheets and hand them to the creel operator before the first shift.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Control textile process
+Build a control chart from the last 30 fabric width readings, flag any runs outside limits, attach machine…
Control textile process
+Build a control chart from the last 30 fabric width readings, flag any runs outside limits, attach machine settings and yarn lot numbers, and send the summary to quality and planning for process adjustment.
Pasted it? Good. When the reply comes back, push once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part. — Did this prompt help?
Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
Activities this job lives in
The human activities behind the tasks — each with its honest AI ceiling.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
The rest of the map
Same library, five ways in.
Copyright © LLOS.ai · 2026 — original pedagogy, voice, and design — all rights reserved.
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses