content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001390378</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000764401</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-09929</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>1373 BOGGS DR</com:street1>
          <com:city>MOUNT AIRY</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NC</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>27030</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>3367862141</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Wagner Richard</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>TD AMERITRADE</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>200 SOUTH 108TH AVE</com:street1>
            <com:city>OMAHA</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NE</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>68154</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>2628</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>82000.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>19432599</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>08/09/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/03/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>OPTION EXERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2628</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/03/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>08/09/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>RICHARD T WAGNER</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2689}]
text: 144
  0001390378
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000764401
  INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC
  001-09929
  1373 BOGGS DR
  MOUNT AIRY
  NC
  27030
  3367862141
  Wagner Richard
  Officer
  COMMON
  TD AMERITRADE
  200 SOUTH 108TH AVE
  OMAHA
  NE
  68154
  2628
  82000.00
  19432599
  08/09/2023
  NYSE
  COMMON
  08/03/2023
  OPTION EXERCISE
  INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC
  N
  2628
  08/03/2023
  N/A
  Y
  08/09/2023
  RICHARD T WAGNER