Prevailing Wage for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
The prevailing wage for a Knitting Machine Operator in the U.S. is set by the DOL under SOC 51-6063 and applies to H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorships. Whether your title is Knitter, Loom Fixer, or Tufting Machine Operator, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor varies significantly depending on which city the worksite sits in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level Knitting Machine Operators with limited experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures and have not yet developed independent judgment in machine setup or troubleshooting.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for this occupation. It applies to qualified operators with enough practical experience to work independently, handle standard machine adjustments, and meet production targets without direct supervision on routine tasks.
Level 3 applies to experienced operators who handle complex machine configurations, mentor junior staff, or take on lead responsibilities on a production floor. These workers draw on multi-year hands-on experience across multiple machine types or fabric specifications.
Level 4 reflects fully competent, senior-level operators with comprehensive expertise. These workers typically oversee equipment setup across an entire production line, resolve non-routine mechanical issues independently, and may carry supervisory or quality-assurance responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Knitting Machine Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how textile employers title filings
Employers sometimes file LCAs under a broader manufacturing SOC rather than 51-6063, which can set a different wage floor. Confirm your offer letter title maps to the Knitting Machine Operator or Loom Fixer occupation before signing.
Compare wages across textile manufacturing hubs
Prevailing wages for this role vary sharply by region. Reading, PA and Boston, MA sit near the top of the pay range, while Burlington, NC and Asheville, NC are among the lowest. The worksite city on your LCA determines which floor applies.
Exclude shift differentials from your wage calculation
Night-shift premiums and production bonuses are common in textile manufacturing, but DOL counts only guaranteed base wages toward prevailing wage compliance. Confirm your base rate alone clears the floor for your level and worksite.
Find sponsors with a Knitting Machine Operator track record
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored workers in this occupation, letting you target companies already familiar with the 51-6063 filing process rather than approaching manufacturers with no textile visa sponsorship history.
Jobs for Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Knitting Machine OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 51-6063.00 alongside Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Knitter Prevailing Wage
Knitter Prevailing Wage
Knitter positions fall under SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Knitting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Knitting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Knitting Machine Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Loom Fixer Prevailing Wage
Loom Fixer Prevailing Wage
Loom Fixer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Operator Prevailing Wage
Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tufting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Tufting Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Tufting Machine Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Tufting Operator Prevailing Wage
Tufting Operator Prevailing Wage
Tufting Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Warp Knit Operator Prevailing Wage
Warp Knit Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Warp Knit Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Weaver Prevailing Wage
Weaver Prevailing Wage
Weaver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Winder Operator Prevailing Wage
Winder Operator Prevailing Wage
Winder Operator positions fall under SOC 51-6063.00 (Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for a Knitting Machine Operator?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of geographic areas. For SOC 51-6063, OFLC translates those regional median wages into four wage levels. Employers sponsoring a Knitter or Loom Fixer must certify on the LCA that they will pay at least the applicable level wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, complexity of duties, and degree of supervision. Level 1 is entry-level with close oversight; Level 2 is independent qualified work; Level 3 reflects experienced operators who handle complex setups or lead peers; Level 4 covers fully competent senior workers. The level on your LCA should match the actual duties and experience your employer lists in the job description, not simply be the lowest level that keeps the offered wage compliant.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Knitting Machine Operator role differ so much city to city?
OFLC bases each area wage on regional OES surveys, which capture local labor market conditions. A metro with a concentrated textile industry and competing manufacturers, such as Reading, PA, records higher median wages than a smaller production cluster in Burlington, NC. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and USCIS verifies that the offered wage meets the floor for that specific metro, not a national average.
What happens if my sponsored job offer falls below the prevailing wage floor?
DOL will not certify an LCA where the offered wage is below the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location and wage level. Without a certified LCA, the employer cannot file an H-1B or other work visa petition with USCIS. If a petition is filed with an incorrect wage level that understates the true floor, it creates compliance risk for the employer and potential issues for your visa status. Ask your employer to confirm the certified LCA wage before your start date.
How can I verify the prevailing wage for a Knitting Machine Operator in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 51-6063 and the worksite metropolitan area. Enter the occupation and location to see all four wage levels for that region. Migrate Mate also lets you filter sponsored job listings for this occupation by location and salary range, so you can compare what employers are actually offering against the DOL floor before applying.
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