How to become a textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tender

Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders do

• Weigh ingredients, such as dye, to be mixed together for use in textile processing.
• Start and control machines and equipment to wash, bleach, dye, or otherwise process and finish fabric, yarn, thread, or other textile goods.
• Monitor factors such as temperatures and dye flow rates to ensure that they are within specified ranges.
• Examine and feel products to identify defects and variations from coloring and other processing standards.
• Adjust equipment controls to maintain specified heat, tension, and speed.
• Soak specified textile products for designated times.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Active Learning

Is textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tender a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 25% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Rhode Island $45,930
• Michigan $44,720
• Mississippi $43,640
• Georgia $41,960
• South Carolina $39,410

Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.