Sector

Textiles & Fabrics Careers

Textiles and fabrics manufacturing produces fabric and textile products. Hybrid work possible for design roles, with moderate credentials and some domestic production surviving despite offshoring.

82K
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$51K
Median salary
Across all roles
Textiles & Fabrics jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Textiles & Fabrics employment by metro · ~62 areas
1.Akron, OH79
2.Asheville, NC796
3.Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA1K
4.Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC1K
5.Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX20

Jobs per 100K workforce — measures industry density

BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Textiles & Fabrics

Textiles and fabrics manufacturing produces materials that become countless products — there's satisfaction in process manufacturing, technical textiles development, and making materials with diverse applications. Many find meaning in versatile production.

The challenge can come from import competition and industry contraction. Most commodity textile production has moved overseas. Remaining domestic production often focuses on technical, industrial, or specialty fabrics. Production can be hot and noisy. The industry has consolidated significantly.

The field varies by fabric type and role. Technical textiles differ from apparel fabrics, home textiles, or industrial materials. Weaving differs from knitting, nonwovens, or finishing. Manufacturing differs from R&D, quality, or engineering.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: process manufacturing, specialty fabric development, often stable employment in remaining facilities, and textile expertise. If you want textile careers, can find positions in domestic production, and enjoy fabric manufacturing, this sector offers opportunities in specialized segments.

How people break in

Machine operator roles accessible. Textile engineering for technical roles. Limited but specialized opportunities.

Work environment tends toward
Declining industryOffshore competitionTechnical textiles focusMachine operationSpecialized remaining
Industries it connects to
ManufacturingApparelAutomotiveMedical
Salary vs. national average
-28%
$51K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$17K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level →
Salary range across all textiles & fabrics roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$92K
2. Boulder$79K
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 · $88K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $81K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara · $92K adj.
Boulder · $79K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · $74K adj.
Most jobs
New York · 19.1M
Los Angeles · 12.7M
Chicago · 9.5M
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 Textiles & Fabrics.

🚪
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.
76%
Small
<50
20%
Mid
50–249
4%
Large
250+
🏠
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Hybrid common
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
📋
Credential Density
Moderate
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.