by our College Data Analytics TeamMaterials from the clothes you're wearing to the couch in your living room were developed by a textile engineer. If you're interested in testing and developing both natural and synthetic fibers to create new types of materials, Textile Engineering is for you.
Textile Engineering majors use their math and science backgrounds to analyze and understand everything there is to know about textile fibers. You will take classes in industrial engineering, molecular synthesis, chemical manufacturing, and computer science to prepare you for an exciting career in this growing field.
A major in Textile Engineering covers Textile Sciences And Engineering. Continue reading for the key facts every textile engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering textile engineering programs.
Across the country, textile engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 275 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Textile Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for textile engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of textile engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Textile Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations textile engineering graduates commonly enter.
Students who are successful in Textile Engineering have a strong background in mathematics and science. You will be working on developing synthetic materials as well as improving current fibers used in textiles; critical thinking and creativity will help you in these tasks. Like other engineering fields, the ability to work in a team and manage multiple projects will make you successful.
Textile Engineering careers are often fulltime jobs in and office or research lab. Professionals typically carry a 40-hour workweek.
Employers prefer professionals who have previous experience, making internships and co-operative education programs necessary. These experiences will allow students to get a feel for the career in the real world and improve their skills before graduation.
The skill set developed in a textile engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a textile engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several textile engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 194 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 58 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 23 |
People currently working in careers related to textile engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 40.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 12.8% |
| Master’s degree | 12.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in textile engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are many possibilities for Textile Engineering graduates. While some may go into clothing manufacturing, others have developed gear for outer space or underwater exploration, biocompatible organs for medical uses, and have created synthetic materials to replace overused organic materials. With the advancements in technology, the field is expanding and new career paths constantly emerging.
Depending on the type of job you wish to have after graduation, job outlook can vary. However, those with previous experience in the field will be more competitive in the job market.
Studying textile engineering opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to textile engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to textile engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Materials Engineers | 40,988 | -4.9% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of textile engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $47,533 |
| 4 years | $57,894 |
| 5 years | $71,193 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for textile engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers textile engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Materials Engineers | $52,129 |
With 4 different textile engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased textile engineering school rankings to help you.
Students interested in textile engineering, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Textile Sciences and Engineering | 275 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 42,939 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 26,760 |
| Civil Engineering | 20,005 |
| Computer Engineering | 19,986 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13,914 |
| Engineering, General | 13,411 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,939 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 9,596 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,533 |
| Systems Engineering | 3,956 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
