Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
SOC Code: 51-6021
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials carries a 27% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $33,880 and -13.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 28,400 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials (SOC 51-6021) carries an AI exposure score of 27%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 28,400 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -13.5% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $33,880, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
- 2. Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
- 3. Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.
- 4. Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
- 5. Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.
- 6. Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
- 7. Identify and treat spots on garments.
- 8. Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam.
- 9. Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.
- 10. Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
Key Skills Required
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Monitoring
- Time Management
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Transportation
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials?
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials has an AI exposure score of 27%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials is projected to decline by 13.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 28,400 workers.
What skills are needed for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials?
Key skills for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials include Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials earn?
The median annual wage for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials is $33,880, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials?
The typical entry-level education for Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials?
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).