Also called: Dye House Operator, Bleaching Operator
Runs the huge vats and ranges that bleach, dye and finish fabric.
You load hundreds of yards of fabric into a pressurized dye machine, follow the recipe for temperature and chemicals, and pull samples to check the color. It is hot, wet work with safety gear, and a good operator can save a whole batch from going wrong.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High-school diploma; on-the-job training with chemical safety.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Textile Technology (certificate).
Shrinking (about -7% over 10 years). BLS projects decline.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automated dye dispensing and machine control take over routine steps; fewer operators are needed.
Age 18+. One way to start: Apply at dye houses and finishing plants or through a staffing agency; new hires are trained on the job
Classes: Chemistry, Algebra.
Official data: O*NET occupation 51-6061.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.