17 Jobs You Can Do With A Textile Degree (Salary And Duties)

Updated 23 March 2023

If you are interested in textiles and have recently graduated with a degree in the field, you may wonder what career opportunities are available. A degree in textiles can provide you with a valuable and versatile skill set that you can apply to various roles. Learning about these jobs can help you find one that matches your interests and skill set. In this article, we explore 17 jobs you can do with a textile degree and discuss their average salaries, and primary duties.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

17 Jobs You Can Do With A Textile Degree

Here are 17 jobs you can do with a textile degree:

1. Quality Assurance Inspector

National average salary: ₹1,95,138 per year

Primary duties: Quality assurance inspectors in the textile industry inspect raw materials, test textile products, identify defects, document findings, recommend improvements and monitor compliance. They also provide training to production staff. These professionals ensure that finished textile products meet established quality standards, recommend solutions to improve a production process or product design and verify compliance with relevant regulations and standards.

2. Pattern Maker

National average salary: ₹2,35,785 per year

Primary duties: A pattern maker in the textile industry interprets design specifications, develops pattern templates, makes necessary adjustments to a design and creates prototype patterns. They collaborate with design and production teams, provide technical advice on the pattern-making process and ensure that creators make prints to the correct specifications. They may also grade patterns to different sizes and evaluate the fit, and function of the final product.

3. Administrative Assistant

National average salary: ₹2,42,395 per year

Primary duties: Administrative assistants provide clerical and administrative support to individuals or teams within an organisation. Their duties include answering and directing phone calls, managing calendars and schedules, organising and maintaining files and records, preparing documents and reports and handling correspondence. They may also manage office supplies, coordinate meetings and events, and perform other related tasks.

4. Marketing Executive

National average salary: ₹2,57,486 per year

Primary duties: A marketing executive develops and implements marketing strategies. They also conduct market research, analyse consumer trends, create marketing campaigns, manage budgets, collaborate with other departments and measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts. They work closely with other departments, such as sales, product development and design, to ensure that marketing efforts align with overall business objectives.

5. Research Analyst

National average salary: ₹2,60,240 per year

Primary duties: A research analyst in the textile industry conducts market research and analyses data on textile trends, technologies and consumer demand. In doing so, they can identify opportunities and risks, and create reports to guide strategic decision-making. They collaborate with product development teams and provide input on textile design, and development to ensure that products meet customer needs and preferences. They help textile companies stay competitive by providing various data-based insights for decision-making.

6. Purchasing Supervisor

National average salary: ₹2,60,430 per year

Primary duties: Purchasing supervisors oversee a company's purchasing process, coordinate with suppliers, monitor market trends, develop purchasing strategies and manage a purchasing team. They ensure the timely procurement of materials and supplies, negotiate contracts with vendors, maintain accurate purchasing records and check inventory levels to minimise stock shortages, and excesses. They streamline purchasing operations, reduce costs and promote quality, and the prompt delivery of goods and services.

7. Sales Representative

National average salary: ₹2,61,279 per year

Primary duties: Sales representatives generate leads, reach out to potential customers, deliver sales pitches, close deals and maintain strong customer relationships. They work to meet or exceed sales targets, provide product information and handle customer enquiries or complaints. These professionals may also participate in market research and provide feedback to their team on customer needs, and preferences.

8. Graphic Designer

National average salary: ₹2,63,330 per year

Primary duties: A graphic designer conceptualises and creates designs, collaborates with other teams, maintains design standards and stays up to date on trends in the industry. They use specialised software to create digital designs for textile production and may also develop physical samples to test designs. They play a critical role in creating designs that appeal to customers and reflect a brand's identity.

9. Illustrator

National average salary: ₹2,77,695 per year

Primary duties: Illustrators with textile degrees may have duties that include creating technical drawings and specifications for textile products. This can include stitching details, measurements and construction techniques. Additionally, they can collaborate with fashion designers, product developers or marketing teams, to ensure designs adhere to a brand's overall vision and appeal to the target audience.

10. Fashion Designer

National average salary: ₹2,79,555 per year

Primary duties: A fashion designer creates and develops clothing, and accessory designs that are visually appealing, functional and commercially successful. They stay updated with the latest trends in fashion and understand the history, and evolution of trends. They often work with marketing and sales teams to promote their designs and build their brand. This can include creating advertising campaigns, attending trade shows and fashion events, and developing relationships with buyers and retailers.

11. Apparel Associate

National average salary: ₹3,09,506 per year

Primary duties: Apparel associates in the retail industry help customers with their purchases, maintain the appearance of a store's sales floor and process transactions. Their duties include stocking merchandise, organising displays, providing product information and recommendations to customers, and handling returns and exchanges. They may also help manage inventory, order new merchandise and make sure a store meets established standards for cleanliness and organisation.

12. Product Designer

National average salary: ₹3,14,829 per year

Primary duties: A product designer in the textile industry creates and develops innovative textile products and designs. They research, sketch, prototype and finalise concepts that meet customer needs, and preferences. They also collaborate with production teams, providing input on product design and ensuring that products meet quality standards, manufacturing constraints and regulations.

13. Print Manager

National average salary: ₹3,18,954 per year

Primary duties: The primary duty of a print manager is to ensure that the production of printed materials is efficient, effective and meets a high-quality standard. They also manage the associated costs and resources. Other tasks that they may undertake in this role include preparing and reviewing print-ready files, selecting stocks and finishes, overseeing press checks and managing the shipping, and delivery of finished materials.

14. Visual Merchandiser

National average salary: ₹3,59,319 per year

Primary duties: A visual merchandiser manages displays in retail stores to attract and retain customers, and increase sales. They also help to plan a store's layout to create a logical flow that encourages shoppers to move through the store and explore different sections. They may also help track and manage inventory. This can include monitoring stock levels, ensuring that there are plenty of high-selling items and coordinating with the store's procurement team to manage inventory levels effectively.

15. Supply Chain Specialist

National average salary: ₹4,72,978 per year

Primary duties: A supply chain specialist's duties include planning and scheduling, managing inventory, coordinating with suppliers, negotiating contracts, analysing data, ensuring quality and managing logistics. They work closely with suppliers, manufacturers and distributors to optimise the supply chain, reduce costs and ensure the quality of a finished product. Their role is critical in ensuring the efficient movement of goods throughout a supply chain.

16. Materials Manager

National average salary: ₹5,44,570 per year

Primary duties: A materials manager oversees inventory levels, orders materials, coordinates with suppliers, develops purchasing strategies, monitors delivery schedules and resolves any supply chain issues. They maintain an uninterrupted supply of materials for production while optimising inventory levels and minimising costs. The role can also include leading cross-functional teams, analysing market trends, negotiating contracts and developing policies, and procedures to improve the efficiency of the materials management process.

17. Project Manager

National average salary: ₹5,98,631 per year

Primary duties: Project managers lead project teams, providing guidance, support and motivation to managing projects from conception to completion. This includes developing project plans, timelines and budgets, identifying and mitigating risks, coordinating resources, monitoring progress and ensuring that the team meets project objectives. They communicate with management to inform them of project status, to manage project documentation and to make recommendations for process improvements to increase project efficiency, and effectiveness.