Production
Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Also called: Back Winder, Cable Operator, Computer Integrated Manufacturing Operator (CIM Operator), Drawing Operator
US median pay
$38,670
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-10.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
2,400
23,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to 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.
- Replace depleted supply packages with full packages.
- Stop machines when specified amount of products has been produced.
- Inspect products to verify that they meet specifications and to determine whether machine adjustment is needed.
- Tend machines that twist together two or more strands of yarn or insert additional twists into single strands of yarn to increase strength, smoothness, or uniformity of yarn.
- Observe operations to detect defects, malfunctions, or supply shortages.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operations Monitoring3.6/5
- Operation and Control3.5/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1/5
- Troubleshooting2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.6/5
- Coordination2.6/5
- Time Management2.5/5
Knowledge
- Production and Processing3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.1/5
- Mechanical3.1/5
- Public Safety and Security3.0/5
- Personnel and Human Resources2.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service2.8/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school54%
- High school diploma46%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.