tufting operator
Tufting operators supervise the tufting process of a group of machines, monitoring fabric quality and tufting conditions. They inspect tufting machines after set up, start up, and during production to ensure the product being tufted meets specs and quality standards.
tufting operator tufting operators supervise the tufting process of a group of machines, monitoring fabric quality and tufting conditions. The role shows moderate AI exposure (0.50 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include textile industry machinery products, tufting technology, textile techniques, manufacture textile floor coverings, control textile process.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £27,915 a year for Textile process operatives (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 8112). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Plant and machine operators and assemblers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only tufting operator, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 8. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
What you'd actually do
- Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
- Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
- Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
- Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
- Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
- Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does tufting operator do?
Tufting operators supervise the tufting process of a group of machines, monitoring fabric quality and tufting conditions. They inspect tufting machines after set up, start up, and during production to ensure the product being tufted meets specs and quality standards.
What skills does tufting operator need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include textile industry machinery products, tufting technology, textile techniques, manufacture textile floor coverings, control textile process, produce textile samples. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace tufting operator?
Our AI-durability model gives tufting operator a score of 0.50 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.