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Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders

The occupation Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders covers people who operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers. You may also need to weigh ingredients, such as dye, to be mixed together for use in textile processing. Its interest code is RCI. Realistic leads at 6.8 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Conventional next at 4.2. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in operations monitoring, operation and control, and time management helps most here. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need leading, persuading and making business decisions, it may feel thin.

What they do

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.

Skills

  • Operations Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Time Management
  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on operations monitoring and operation and control.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.2 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Beck Operator
  • Dye House Worker
  • Dye Line Operator
  • Dye Machine Operator
  • Dye Operator

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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.