Also called: Apparel Materials Developer, Fabric Developer, Technical Textile Developer
Finds and develops the fabrics, from waterproof membranes to stretchy recycled knits, that go into outdoor gear and athletic wear.
You test a new recycled fabric in the lab for stretch, wicking and pilling, then fly to a mill to fix a color problem. You work with designers to pick the perfect fabric for next season's rain jacket.
Estimated.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in textile engineering, textile science or fashion.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Textile Engineering, Textile Science, Fashion Merchandising.
Growing about average. Steady at outdoor and athletic brands.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds material searches and testing data; sourcing, testing and fitting new fabrics into gear stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, Art, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-6092.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.