Machine operators and related workers in textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing

How to become a textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operator or worker

Official title: Textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers

Also called: Yarn dyer, Yarn dryer, Fibre mixer, Yarn soaker, Fibre washer, Pelt dresser, Pelt shearer, Textile dyer, Yarn spinner, Yarn spooler, Fibre classer, Yarn finisher

Textile fibre and yarn processing machine operators and workers operate machines to prepare textile fibres; spin, wind or twist yarn or thread; and bleach, dye or finish yarn, thread, cloth or textile products. They are employed by textile manufacturing companies. Hide and pelt processing machine operators and workers trim, scrape, clean, tan, buff and dye animal hides, pelts or skins to produce leather stock and finished furs. They are employed by leather tanning, fur dressing and leather and fur dyeing establishments.

Main tasks

Textile fibre, yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operators
Operate and feed machines that wash, mix, blend, pick, card, lap, comb or draw fibres, finish yarn, hides or pelts
Operate spinning, twisting, winding or reeling machines
Operate a variety of machines to clean, bleach, dye, coat or finish fabric, thread, yarn, hide, pelt and other textile products
Mix dyes or chemicals according to established formulas
Operate machinery to print designs onto textile products
Oversee work area, examine products for defects and ensure adherence to quality standards
Investigate machine stoppages and notify supervisor or mechanic in the event of equipment malfunction

How to become one

Completion of secondary school may be required. On-the-job training is provided for several weeks, depending on the complexity of the process and the number of machines operated

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

Median pay: $44,070 a year The middle half earn $37,050 to $50,700.
About 2,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 2,300 are projected by 2033. (+0%)
Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Questions people ask

How do I become a textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operator or worker?

Completion of secondary school may be required. On-the-job training is provided for several weeks, depending on the complexity of the process and the number of machines operated

How much does a textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operator or worker earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $44,070 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $37,050 to $50,700.

Is a textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operator or worker a growing career in Canada?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2033: about 2,300 people now and 2,300 later (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a textile fibre and yarn, hide and pelt processing machine operator or worker?

Usually not. Only 10% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03