Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median of $38,180 per year ($18.36/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 12.5% through 2035, with about 600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-6061
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $38,180a year, or $18.36/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $30KTop 10% $48K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -12.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−12.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −12.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6005,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20255.7K
- Projected 20355K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 5.7K Projected 2035 5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school35.3%
- High school56%
- Some college2.3%
- Associate's6.4%
Highest education held by textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 35.3% High school 56% Some college 2.3% Associate's 6.4%
Also advertised as: Beck Operator, Dye House Worker, Dye Line Operator, Dye Machine Operator, Dye Operator, Dye Tub Operator.
Pay
How much do Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders make?
Every textile bleaching and dyeing machine operator and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$38,180
Middle half earn $35,680 to $45,280
- 10th
- $30,300
- 25th
- $35,680
- 75th
- $45,280
- 90th
- $48,100
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $30,300 |
| 25th | $35,680 |
| Median | $38,180 |
| 75th | $45,280 |
| 90th | $48,100 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $38,180
- Median hourly wage
- $18.36/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $40,380
- People employed
- 5,310
Versus all US occupations
At $38,180, Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders earn 25% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $12,800 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $48,100 or more while the bottom 10% earn $30,300, a gap of 1.6×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 6% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Rhode Island posts the highest raw median ($45,930), but once local prices are taken into account Mississippi leads at $50,188 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Rhode Island | $45,930 | $44,906 | 210 |
| 2Michigan | $44,720 | $46,478 | 60 |
| 3Mississippi | $43,640 | $50,188 | 80 |
| 4Georgia | $41,960 | $43,575 | 490 |
| 5South Carolina | $39,410 | $42,038 | 770 |
| 6New York | $39,030 | $36,165 | 120 |
| 7Pennsylvania | $38,420 | $39,376 | 250 |
| 8North Carolina | $37,610 | $39,872 | 980 |
| 9Tennessee | $37,410 | $40,721 | 270 |
| 10California | $36,670 | $33,120 | 880 |
Job outlook
Is Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -12.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders | −12.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders to change -12.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 700 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 600 openings are projected each year, 10.5% of the 5,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)56%
- Less than a High School Diploma35.3%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree6.4%
- Some College Courses2.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 56% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 35.3% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 6.4% |
| Some College Courses | 2.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Adjust equipment controls to maintain specified heat, tension, and speed.
- Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
- Start and control machines and equipment to wash, bleach, dye, or otherwise process and finish fabric, yarn, thread, or other textile goods.
- Confer with coworkers to get information about order details, processing plans, or problems that occur.
- 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.
- Add dyes, water, detergents, or chemicals to tanks to dilute or strengthen solutions, according to established formulas and solution test results.
- Inspect machinery to determine necessary adjustments and repairs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Speaking2.9
- Critical Thinking2.9
- Writing2.5
- Mathematics2.5
- Active Learning2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Speaking | 2.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.5 |
| Active Learning | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.8
- Operation and Control3.4
- Time Management3.0
- Quality Control Analysis2.9
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9
- Coordination2.8
- Social Perceptiveness2.6
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 2.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.8
- Conventional4.2
- Investigative2.1
- Artistic1.3
- Social1.3
- Enterprising1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender
O*NET related occupations
- Production
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operator and Tender
$43,530median a year
Most earn $34K to $59K
+3.4%High school - Production
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operator and Tender
$46,460median a year
Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%High school - Transportation and Material Moving
- Production
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operator and Tender
$48,040median a year
Most earn $36K to $70K
+2.6%High school - Production
Extruding and Forming Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Synthetic and Glass Fiber
$46,350median a year
Most earn $36K to $64K
−3.3%High school - Production
More production careers
Median annual pay, with textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender$38,180
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender | $38,180 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender appears on
Questions
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders make?
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders earn a median of $38,180 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $18.36/hr. The middle half earn between $35,680 and $45,280. The top 10% earn $48,100 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 56.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 12.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 700 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender do?
Operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers. A core O*NET task: adjust equipment controls to maintain specified heat, tension, and speed. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders are Rhode Island ($45,930), Michigan ($44,720), Mississippi ($43,640) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Mississippi moves to the top at $50,188.
What personality type suits a Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operator and Tender?
O*NET scores Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.