Production
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.
Also called: Automated Cutting Machine Operator, CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator), Cutter, Cutter Operator, Die Cut Operator, Fabric Cutter
- Median pay in Greater Boston
- $43,680
- $21.00/hr
- Jobs in Greater Boston
- 270
- Massachusetts 2024–2034
- −4.1%
- 20 openings a year
- Typical U.S. entry requirement
- High school diploma or equivalent
- plus Moderate-term on-the-job training
Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.
Pay range in Greater Boston
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34,360 | $43,680 | $43,680 | $49,310 | $54,870 |
10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.
What you’d do
- 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.
- Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
- Record information about work completed and machine settings.
- Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
AI and this job
AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.
Lower exposure20 of 100
The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:
- AIOE 15
- Language-model AIOE 14
- GPTs-are-GPTs 31
Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)
AI exposure for textile cutting machine workers is lower, and observed AI use is little or none. Software may help with machine settings, record keeping, and quality checks. Setting up patterns, running cutters, and handling fabric stay hands-on. Massachusetts projections show this job shrinking 4.1%, so related work is worth a look.
Likely to change
- Recording work completed and machine settings
- Checking products against quality standards
Still relies on people
- Placing patterns on layered fabric
- Adjusting and starting machines hands-on
Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.
Next steps from here
Related jobs that build on what you already do.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Very similar work: running cutting machines, fixing defects, and keeping production records. It offers 5.2% projected growth.
- Pay difference
- +$640 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +5.2%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Adjusting machine speeds and settings carries over. This move offers somewhat higher pay with on-the-job training.
- Pay difference
- +$4,050 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +2.9%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Your knowledge of how production machines run helps you fix them. This move offers much higher pay and 17.1% projected growth.
- Pay difference
- +$31,520 median
- AI exposure
- Lower
- MA growth
- +17.1%
- To get started
- High school diploma or equivalent
Training near Boston
College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).
No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.
Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.
Related occupations
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
- Machine Feeders and Offbearers
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Talk to a career coach
A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.
Talk to a career coach