How Much Money Does a Textile Designer Make in Oklahoma?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recognizes a number of different occupational categories within the industry of textile design. Most of these positions are machine-operator jobs, since using machines has increased textile production. Textile winding and twisting machine operators are in charge of creating yarn, wool and other stringed fiber products. Textile cutting machine operators design the textile shapes that will that will be constructed into clothes.
- Federal statistics indicate that national average salary levels for textile design jobs ranges from $25,000 to $30,000 per year. Oklahoma salaries for these jobs are typically slightly less than the national average. Textile winding and twisting machine operators working in Oklahoma earned an average annual salary of $26,180 as of May 2010. Oklahoma textile cutting machine operators earned an average 2010 salary of $23,300 per year, or $11.20 per hour. The average salary for all other textile and apparel workers in Oklahoma during 2010 was $47,260 per year, well above the national average of $28,720 per year.
- The highly automated nature of textile design means that these jobs often have lower minimal required education levels than many other occupations. Most entry-level positions can be obtained by workers who only possess a high school diploma or GED equivalency. Job prospects are best for applicants who have received machine training at a vocational school or prior work experience with machine operation. Training for specific textile design jobs is generally conducted in-house by the manufacturer.
- The increased use of imported textiles as well as machine technologies is causing job openings for textile design jobs to decline rapidly across the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment levels for all textile, apparel and furnishing occupations will decline by about 15 percent between 2008 and 2018. Job prospects will be best for textile workers who can learn specialties beyond machine operation, such as upholstering or tailoring.
