Sector

Apparel & Textile Manufacturing Careers

Apparel and textile manufacturing produces clothing and fabric products. Mostly smaller operations with low credential requirements, though the work is largely on-site and physical.

78K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$49K
Median salary
Across all roles
Apparel & Textile Manufacturing jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Apparel & Textile Manufacturing employment by metro · ~96 areas
1.Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ686
2.Ann Arbor, MI9
3.Asheville, NC139
4.Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA406
5.Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ10

Jobs per 100K workforce — measures industry density

BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Apparel & Textile Manufacturing

Apparel and textile manufacturing produces the clothes we wear — there's satisfaction in seeing garments through production, the tangible output, and being part of fashion's supply chain. Many find meaning in making things people use daily.

The challenge can come from offshore competition and margin pressure. Most apparel manufacturing has moved overseas; domestic positions are limited. Remaining operations often serve fast-fashion or specialized niches. Production pressure is constant. Sewing work can be repetitive.

The field varies by product and process. Cut-and-sew operations differ from fabric manufacturing, technical textiles, or design production. Fashion apparel has different dynamics than industrial or uniform manufacturing. Domestic production often focuses on speed or specialty items.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: making tangible products, seeing garments produced, often accessible entry, and craft in skilled positions. If you enjoy garment work, can accept the industry limitations, and want hands-on manufacturing, apparel offers opportunities in remaining domestic production.

How people break in

Sewing skills for production. Fashion design programs for design roles. Merchandising and sourcing for business tracks.

Work environment tends toward
Offshore dominantDesign focus domesticallyQuick-turn specialtyFashion industry linkLimited production
Industries it connects to
RetailFashionManufacturingInternational Trade
Salary vs. national average
-31%
$49K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$16K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level →
Salary range across all apparel & textile manufacturing roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$92K
2. Boulder$78K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$74K
4. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
5. Trenton-Princeton$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$70K in mid-market metros to ~$104K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap — metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $104K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont · $87K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $80K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $92K adj.
Boulder · $78K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York · 18.3M
Los Angeles · 12.2M
Chicago · 9.2M
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts — signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Apparel & Textile Manufacturing.

🚪
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Manufacturing data
18%
People tend to stay in Manufacturing. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
4%vs. 22% all industries
🏢
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
94%
Small
<50
5%
Mid
50–249
1%
Large
250+
🏠
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
mostly_onsite
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
📋
Credential Density
Low
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
🤝
Union Presence
Based on all Manufacturing data
~9%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
9%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Union Members Summary 2024
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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS QCEW 2024 · O*NET Work Context · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.