Textile process operatives Pay Data UK — 2025

Textile process operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £28,685 per year, equivalent to £14.65 per hour as of 2025. This represents a 2.0% increase in annual pay compared to the previous year. Pay varies across the UK, ranging from £23,942 to £42,218 per year.

How Pay Varies Across the UK

Each bar shows how many areas of the UK have a median annual pay in that range for Textile process operatives roles. The dashed line marks the national median.

Based on sub-regional area data. Want a precise figure for your area?

About Textile process operatives

Textile process operatives operate machines to prepare natural and synthetic fibres for processing, spin and twist fibre into yarn, thread, twine, rope and other similar material, and estimate the quantities of colouring matter required for printing and dyeing fabrics.

Typical Tasks and Duties

• sets controls, starts machinery and monitors the passage of material processed
• replenishes the supply of input fibres, removes and replaces full output packages, cards and spools
• detects blockages, tangled thread, defective or broken material, and joins broken ends by hand or mechanical knotting
• checks quality of completed material, marks any flaws and removes badly damaged sections
• examines colour cards or specifications, estimates quantity of colouring material needed to print or dye fibre and calculates and mixes ingredients accordingly
• stretches, shrinks, brushes, dampens and presses fabric and shears or burns off protruding fabric fibres as required
• cleans and oils machine, detects and reports mechanical faults to technicians

Entry Routes and Qualifications

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs relating to textile manufacture at levels 2 and 3 and apprenticeships are available.

Related Occupations

Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.