Human edge, steady

Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut textiles.

AI Resistance Index 21 of 99

Changing faster than most: more resilient than 21% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is low (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by -13.6% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on physical dexterity.

AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.

Median pay (2025): $38,760
Job growth to 2035: -13.6%
Openings a year: 900
People doing it (2025): 9,400
Usual route in: High school diploma, then moderate on-the-job training

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Where people already use AI for this work

Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance
Communicate with others about operational plans or activities
Set up equipment

From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).

Work AI rarely helps with

Operate cutting or grinding equipment
Position workpieces or materials on equipment
Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards

What the work looks like

Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
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.

From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.

What the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects

Fewer of these jobs, as new technology allows manufacturers to automate the cutting, sewing and storage of fabric materials once done by these workers.
Fewer of these jobs, as new technology allows textile product mills to automate the cutting, sewing and storage of fabric materials once done by these workers.

Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook

Pourers and casters, metalHuman edge, steady, Index 48, -5.0%
Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plasticHuman edge, steady, Index 52, -3.4%
Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tendersHuman edge, steady, Index 23, -13.7%
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materialsHuman edge, steady, Index 41, -15.7%

Also known as: Cutter, Cutter Operator, Fabric Cutter, Spreader, Automated Cutting Machine Operator, CNC Cutting Operator (Computer Numerical Control Cutting Operator), Die Cut Operator, Laser Operator.

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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.