Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers

How to become a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator or Tender

Official title: Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

Also called: Beck Operator, Dye House Worker, Dye Line Operator, Dye Machine Operator, Dye Operator, Dye Tub Operator, Dyer, Jet Dyeing Machine Operator, Machine Operator (Machine Op), Tub Operator

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

Main tasks

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.
Observe display screens, control panels, equipment, and cloth entering or exiting processes to determine if equipment is operating correctly.
Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
Monitor factors such as temperatures and dye flow rates to ensure that they are within specified ranges.
Add dyes, water, detergents, or chemicals to tanks to dilute or strengthen solutions, according to established formulas and solution test results.
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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $38,180 a year The middle half earn $35,680 to $45,280.
About 5,700 people work in this job now, and about 5,000 are projected by 2035. (-12.5%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How much does a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator or Tender earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $38,180 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $35,680 to $45,280.

Is a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator or Tender a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 12% by 2035, from about 5,700 to about 5,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator or Tender?

Usually not. Only 7% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator or Tender?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.