15 Best Paying Jobs in Textiles in 2023

The manufacture of natural and synthetic fibers is the foundation of the U.S. economy’s multibillion-dollar textile sector. This enormous financial sector benefits from some of the best paying jobs in the textile industry in 2023 with its constant artistic and technological innovations.

Everything from coveralls to bikinis to tent canopies and upholstery through the textile industry’s supply chain is conceived, produced, and sold.

Even though most people readily think of fashion designers at the first mention of the textile industry, the business has much more to offer, including demanding jobs for fashion models, illustrators, merchandisers, and textile designers.

So, if you want to learn more about potential careers, job descriptions, and respective salaries in the textile business, this article covers the 15 best paying jobs in the textile industry.

What is the textile industry?

The textile industry comprises the production sector, which focuses on sewing and other techniques for making clothing, the production sector, which regulates fabric manufacturing procedures, and the fashion industry, which creates and markets retail apparel.

To make clothing for the industry, fashion designers use a variety of fabrics. While some designs are high-end, others are for general customers. These designs come alive in sewing operations, sewn by a single dressmaker or an vast assembly line of workers in a manufacturing facility.

Inspectors for quality control make sure the garment adheres to corporate standards. The goal of retail sales, marketing, and management is to draw customers into their stores so they may buy merchandise already on the rack.

Is a career in the Textile Industry a good choice?

Yes! Choosing a career path in the textile industry is a good choice, as the industry continues to thrive and enjoy constant growth in demand.

According to the National Council of Textile Organizations, as of 2019, the textile sector employed 585,240 people. The textile and clothing supply chain also supports three extra employment for each textile position.

Following a report from the International Trade Association, the textile industry in the United States is one of the most important financial sectors, contributing close to $70 billion yearly. The textile sector creates a wide range of necessary goods in addition to apparel, including carpets, body armor, medical equipment, upholstery for cars, and more.

What are the requirements to work in the textile industry?

Depending on your area of expertise, there are different requirements for employment in the textile sector. Entry-level production jobs, like dressmakers, do not often need formal education requirements, but corporate-level jobs, like marketing and retail management, often do.

A science degree and an innovative approach to textile creation are important for creating various textiles and fabrics. A fashion designer should be skilled with multiple materials and know how to make apparel for particular demographics.

Retail buyers need to have strong bargaining abilities and a comprehensive understanding of the market and the needs of their customers. And merchandising experts are skilled at tracking sales data and assessing the viability of various fabrics and trends.

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15 Best Paying Jobs in the Textile Industry

Here are some jobs in the textile industry:

  • 1. Illustrator
  • 2. Color specialist
  • 3. Graphic designer
  • 4. Fashion designer
  • 5. Textile design engineer
  • 6. Clothing presser
  • 7. Line supervisor
  • 8. Textile machine operator
  • 9. Production manager
  • 10. Fashion merchandiser
  • 11. Brand Ambassador
  • 12. Retail store manager
  • 13. Sales associate
  • 14. Wholesale manager
  • 15. Fashion model

1. Illustrator

Average salary: $49,569 yearly

Illustrators do not only work in the newspapers/ magazines industry. They are also in charge of creating illustrations and other visual works.

In the textile industry, illustrators create patterns and prints for textile companies that use images in more extensive advertising campaigns. With their artistic specialties in creating unique pictures, illustrators have one of the best paying jobs in textiles in 2023.

2. Color specialist

Average salary: $43,474 yearly

Color specialists, also known as colorists, primarily recommend color combinations that complement a design. Like graphic designers, they have eyes for matching colors and may often create and combine their hues. Additionally, they ensure that the fabrics in your clothing line have uniform coloring.

3. Graphic designer

Average salary: $50,721 yearly

Graphic designers are in charge of creating visual messages, including text or images. They provide pictures for print advertisements, web content, posters, billboards, automobiles, and packaging.

Professional designers in this industry design textile patterns and provide images for marketing campaigns. They not only have an eye for colors but typically concentrate on a visual’s general structure and design.

4. Fashion designer

Average salary: $54,675 per year

Fashion designing is one of the best paying jobs in textiles in 2023 and certainly one of the most appreciated jobs in this industry. Fashion designers focus on the creation of clothing designs.

They select the fabrics, develop the patterns for each outfit, and exhibit their products in print advertisements or fashion shows. Designers are artistic prodigies that work for luxury brands, creating designs for boutiques, specialized merchants, retailers, and individual customers.

Most fashion designers begin by working for others before building personal brands. For instance, before founding his own business, Tom Ford produced stunning collections for Gucci.

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5. Textile Design Engineer

Average salary: $79,699 per year

A textile design engineer strives to balance a design’s aesthetic elements and practical goals. Engineers specializing in textile design create fabrics and make various patterns on materials for interior designs and apparels, including furniture, clothing, and other items. They also test to ensure that the fabrics fulfill a consumer’ requirements.

For instance, they ensure that oven gloves are made of heat-resistant material, whereas breathable fabrics are for summer apparel.

It is a rewarding and creative profession where one can realize their original ideas and earn good money, as it is unsurprisingly one of the best paying jobs in textiles.

These professionals frequently work with designers responsible for every decoration on a garment, pillowcase, or sofa.

6. Clothing Presser

Average salary: $28,682 per year

A cloth presser removes wrinkles from fabric using irons or other particular equipment. They prepare cloth or apparel items while the creation occurs in the textile industry’s manufacturing section.

Most times, when cloths would undergo a second round of wrinkle removal after manufacture is complete, clothing pressers get them ready for shipping to stores or customers.

7. Line Supervisor

Average salary: $46,971 per year

A line supervisor is a production expert who manages output quality and safety in a specific manufacturing sector. Line supervisors typically require experience and skill in their manufacturing work process (the line).

They manage and guide the other staff members on their line, ensuring it meets its production numbers. A line supervisor in the textile sector could also function in textile or apparel plants.

8. Textile Machine Operator

Average salary: $56,464 per year

A machine operator is in charge of safely and rightly using machines in the plant. They may operate equipment in the textile sector that processes fibers, produces braided, spun, knitted, or woven materials, prints patterns or designs, dyes, dries, and finishes or washes textiles.

As one of the best paying jobs in the textile industry, they also guarantee that the equipment operates effectively and generates goods of high quality.

9. Production Manager

Average salary: $73,602 per year

Production managers are manufacturing experts responsible for the company’s manufacturing machinery.

They keep an eye on the performance of the operator crew, output quality, and equipment efficiency. As one of the best paying jobs in textiles, managers also assist the staff in establishing and meeting organizational output targets.

10. Fashion Merchandiser

Average salary: $37,595 per year

The products stocked in a fashion retail store are the responsibility of a fashion merchandiser. They recognize and foresee fashion industry trends, then pick the goods to sell for every season that complements their store’s design the best.

To maintain consistency between the store’s marketing and in-person experiences, fashion merchandisers concentrate on the balance in the store’s layout, advertising, and interior design techniques.

11. Brand Ambassador

Average salary: $42,563 per year

A brand ambassador represents a company’s products and engages in product marketing via promotional materials or in-person meetings with consumers. Brand ambassadors are some of the best paid people to advertise a particular clothing line or accessories in the textiles sector in 2023.

For instance, a brand ambassador for a fashion brand may appear at a fashion show or in social media photos at the mall wearing that company’s clothing. Additionally, brand ambassadors strive to represent and convey the ideals and vision of their company.

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12. Retail store manager

Average salary: $47,271 per year

Retail store managers are professionals in the retail industry. They provide exceptional customer service and manage the staff, resources, and stock.

Retail store managers can operate in any establishment that sells goods made of textiles, including clothing boutiques and craft shops. As a retail store manager, you have one of the best paying jobs in textiles in 2023.

13. Sales associate

National average salary: $48,456 per year

Retail or department stores often employ these professionals. A sales associate is a retail industry expert who guides customers to the product or brands that best suit their needs. They sell goods, including fabrics, furniture, and apparel, in the textile sector.

As a sales associate, you should also have some experience with marketing, exhibit design, and retail maintenance.

They are also up to date on all market data, famous brands, and trends, so they are often responsible for picking clothes to be sold in stores the following season.

Plus, they attend fashion shows, work closely with designers, and bargain deals with suppliers.

14. Wholesale manager

Average salary: $59,196 per year

The job of a wholesale manager can be the right career choice for you if you are drawn to the commercial aspect of the textile industry. A wholesale manager cooperates with the sales team to provide merchandise to stores. They analyze and forecast sales and promotions to decide what goods to stock.

They are also in charge of managing the purchase and distribution of large volumes of products to retailers. Additionally, they guarantee that shipments are accurate in content, amount, and schedule.

Wholesale managers could work for various companies in the textiles sector, including textile manufacturing facilities, apparel manufacturers, and fashion labels, as one of the best paying jobs in textiles.

As a wholesale manager, you will also conduct market research and be up to date on customer data to help you select the ideal vendors and brands

15. Fashion model

Average salary: $74,903 per year

Fashion models appear in live performances, print and video ads, or both, promoting the apparel, accessories, or brand. Fashion models often engage with agencies to seek new employment contracts and build a portfolio of their works.

Models can decide to use their entire bodies or specific body parts, such as their hands, face, or legs, and focus on particular clothing or advertising, like lingerie.

FAQs about the best paying jobs in textile in 2023

Who are the typical employers of skills in the textile industry?

The employers of skills in the textile industry include:
design studios and consultancies
fashion and design companies
manufacturing and processing companies that produce textile-based products
interior design services
private customers.

What are the required skills for a CV in the textile industry?

To excel in the textile industry, you should know various textile processes and techniques, including experience with:
building materials (such as knitted, woven, sewed, and manipulated textiles);
digital materials; and needlework (focusing on materials for fashion or interiors)
fabrics made of many media.
Additionally, you learn how to use computer-aided design (CAD), analyze and interpret materials critically, investigate techniques, foresee trends, and interact with customers, factory personnel, buyers, and vendors.

What do textile design graduates do?

Fifteen months post-graduation, 18% of textile design graduates are employed in design-related fields. 4% of people work in creative, literary, and media-related areas, while 2% work in the textile and apparel industries.

How do I get opportunities in the textile industry?

For commissions and placements, it’s critical to establish connections with more reputable fashion houses, design firms, and designers.
Enter contests, go to industry and trade exhibitions, and display your work to get the most out of your training.
For recent graduates of textile design programs, you may also try volunteer opportunities in art therapy or community arts. This will help you network, gain experience, and possibly land one of the best paying jobs in textiles in 2023.

Conclusion

For those with a love for expression and a creative vision, a career in the textile field is ideal. This industry has many branches, including writing, modeling, and sales forecasting.

Also, many of the jobs are interdisciplinary, which is quite exciting. They provide some of the best paying jobs and ongoing opportunities for professional advancement in the textile industry in 2023.

References

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