Skip to content

Prototype—not an official NYS Department of Labor service

Start over

Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

The short answer

This job is less likely to change much. Most of the work is the kind AI can't help with. In New York State, the number of these jobs is expected to shrink over the next decade, with about 30 openings expected each year.

Step 1

Where your job stands

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth for how much AI could touch it. Most of what it involves isn't the kind of work AI can take over.

How much AI could touch this job

Less exposedband 2 of 5
least exposedmost exposed

Looking at the job itself, AI could help with about a quarter of this job's tasks.

What this means

Compared with other New York jobs, this one is in the second least exposed fifth, out of 656 jobs we could rank. Read more in the methodology.

Step 2

What AI can and can’t help with in this job

This job is in the second least exposed fifth of New York jobs for AI exposure. The tasks below show why: most of what it involves is work AI can't simply take over.

AI can help with or automate about 21% of the tasks in this job.

Tasks AI can help with or automate

  1. Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.

    AI could help, but needs extra software

  2. Program electronic equipment.

    AI could do much of this on its own

  3. Record information about work completed and machine settings.

    AI could do much of this on its own

  4. Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.

    AI could do much of this on its own

Tasks AI can't do much of

  1. Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  2. Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  3. Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  4. Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

  5. Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.

    AI is unlikely to speed this up

Step 3

Jobs you could switch to

If you're thinking about a change, these are jobs your experience already fits—related work you could move into. Pick your area to see local options.

See related jobs in

The closest matches by the skills they use—each has projected openings in New York State, pays within reach of your job now, and is no more exposed to AI than your job. Each card shows what the move would take.

  • Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Very similar work
    about the same pay191 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about the same—$50,811 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Finger Dexterity
    • Control Precision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Production and Processing
    • Multilimb Coordination

    New skills to build

    • Depth Perception
    • Mathematics
    • Quality Control Analysis
  • Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Very similar work
    slightly less pay236 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$48,003 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Control Precision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Manual Dexterity

    Your current skills largely cover this move.

  • Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Similar work
    +23% pay39 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 23% more—$62,279 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Control Precision
    • Production and Processing
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Operations Monitoring

    New skills to build

    • Mechanical
    • Rate Control
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Operation and Control
    • Quality Control Analysis
  • Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Similar work
    +7% pay195 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays about 7% more—$54,006 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Production and Processing
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Control Precision
    • Finger Dexterity

    New skills to build

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mathematics
  • Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Similar work
    slightly less pay132 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$50,412 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Control Precision
    • Production and Processing
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    New skills to build

    • Mathematics
    • Depth Perception
    • Operation and Control
    • Administration and Management
  • Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Similar work
    slightly less pay139 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$50,043 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Control Precision
    • Production and Processing
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Manual Dexterity

    New skills to build

    • Mathematics
  • Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand

    Somewhat similar work
    slightly less pay31 openings/yrLess exposed than your job now

    Pays slightly less—$48,321 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires no formal educational credential, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes up to about a year.

    Skills you already have

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Control Precision
    • Production and Processing
    • Operations Monitoring

    New skills to build

    • Mechanical
  • Industrial Machinery Mechanics

    Somewhat similar work
    +41% pay4,530 openings/yrAbout as exposed as your job now

    Pays about 41% more—$71,717 vs your $50,705 here.

    What the move takes

    Usually requires a high school diploma or equivalent, plus long-term on-the-job training.

    Getting ready typically takes one to two years.

    Skills you already have

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Control Precision
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Operations Monitoring

    New skills to build

    • Mechanical
    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Engineering and Technology