| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Moisten materials to soften and smooth them. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Press ties on small pressing machines. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Identify and treat spots on garments. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications. |
Associate Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with an Associate's Degree or Less, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Associate's Degree (or less), and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are open to associate's degree graduates and offer a practical starting point for building experience and advancing. For recent graduates or career changers seeking their first role with a two-year degree. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Associate's Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Associate's Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Associate Degree Jobs ![]()
What entry level jobs can you get with just an Associate's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Associate's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having an Associate's Degree. - 356 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Associate's Degree or less) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Description: Press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
30,300U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
27,000
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
-3,300 (-10.8%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
2,600
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Use covering cloths to prevent equipment from damaging delicate fabrics. |
| Importance: 53 (%) | Description: Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools. |
| Importance: 49 (%) | Description: Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as tape measures and micrometers. |
| Importance: 48 (%) | Description: Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to remove spots or to raise and smooth naps. |
| Importance: 42 (%) | Description: Measure fabric to specifications, cut uneven edges with shears, fold material, and press it with an iron to form a heading. |
| Importance: 32 (%) | Description: Sew ends of new material to leaders or to ends of material in pressing machines, using sewing machines. |
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Adjust fabrics or other materials during garment production. | |
| Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment. | |
| Clean fabrics or apparel. | |
| Clean production equipment. | |
| Cut fabrics. | |
| Inspect garments for defects, damage, or stains. | |
| Install mechanical components in production equipment. | |
| Maintain production or processing equipment. | |
| Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. | |
| Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. | |
| Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators. | |
| Operate sewing equipment. | |
| Package products for storage or shipment. | |
| Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production. | |
| Remove products or workpieces from production equipment. | |
| Select production equipment according to product specifications. | |
| Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. | |
| Smooth garments with irons, presses, or steamers. | |
| Stack finished items for further processing or shipment. | |
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. |
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance. |
| Activity: Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas. |
| Activity: Clean workpieces, finished products, or other objects. |
| Activity: Cut materials. |
| Activity: Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products. |
| Activity: Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing. |
| Activity: Maintain tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Mark materials or objects for identification. |
| Activity: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment. |
| Activity: Operate industrial processing or production equipment. |
| Activity: Package objects. |
| Activity: Position workpieces or materials on equipment. |
| Activity: Prepare industrial materials for processing or use. |
| Activity: Remove workpieces from production equipment. |
| Activity: Select materials or equipment for operations or projects. |
| Activity: Set up equipment. |
| Activity: Sew garments or materials. |
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
| Emerging Tech Skills |
| Spreadsheet software: |
| Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software: |
| Microsoft Word |
| General Software Tools |
| Electronic mail software: |
| Email software |
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 59.2 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 25.6 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.2 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.1 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 31.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 18.8 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 13.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Up to and including 1 month |
| Frequency of Attainment: 12.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 5.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
