Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders (SOC 51-6061) earn a median $38,180 a year ($18.36 an hour) in the United States, with 5,310 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders do
Textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators run the equipment that washes, bleaches, shrinks, dyes, or finishes fabric, yarn, thread, and fibers, whether natural, synthetic, or glass. The operator weighs out dyes and chemicals, mixes them according to formulas, and adds water, detergents, or other chemicals to the tanks, strengthening or diluting solutions based on test results. After starting the machines, they watch display screens, control panels, and the cloth as it enters and leaves each process, checking temperature, flow rate, and other factors against the specified ranges. If the equipment is not working properly, they alert supervisors or mechanics. Products are examined and felt for defects and for color or processing that departs from standards. Operators of weaving, knitting, cutting, or winding machines work at different stages of textile production.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Ager, Ager Operator, Ager Tender, Aging Box Hand, Ammonia Box Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.57 | $17.16 | $18.36 | $21.77 | $23.12 | $19.41 | 5,310 |
| Annual | $30,300 | $35,680 | $38,180 | $45,280 | $48,100 | $40,380 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $18.49 | $21.69 | $22.08 | $22.88 | $28.57 | $22.01 | 210 | 0.42 | 12.34 |
| Annual | $38,460 | $45,120 | $45,930 | $47,590 | $59,420 | $45,780 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $16.84 | $18.99 | $21.50 | $22.45 | $23.76 | $21.49 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $35,030 | $39,490 | $44,720 | $46,700 | $49,420 | $44,700 | ||||
| Mississippi | Hourly | $12.47 | $13.88 | $20.98 | $22.59 | $30.72 | $20.77 | 80 | 0.07 | 1.93 |
| Annual | $25,930 | $28,860 | $43,640 | $46,980 | $63,900 | $43,200 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $14.68 | $17.37 | $20.17 | $22.51 | $23.19 | $19.71 | 490 | 0.10 | 2.93 |
| Annual | $30,540 | $36,140 | $41,960 | $46,820 | $48,240 | $41,010 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $17.14 | $17.99 | $18.95 | $22.21 | $22.84 | $19.82 | 770 | 0.34 | 9.80 |
| Annual | $35,660 | $37,410 | $39,410 | $46,210 | $47,500 | $41,230 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $14.51 | $16.55 | $18.08 | $21.19 | $22.34 | $18.62 | 980 | 0.20 | 5.79 |
| Annual | $30,190 | $34,420 | $37,610 | $44,080 | $46,460 | $38,720 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.60 | $17.62 | $17.63 | $21.54 | $21.77 | $18.99 | 880 | 0.05 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $36,610 | $36,660 | $36,670 | $44,790 | $45,280 | $39,490 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $17.14 | $17.99 | $18.95 | $22.21 | $22.84 | $19.82 | 770 | 0.34 | 9.80 |
| Annual | $35,660 | $37,410 | $39,410 | $46,210 | $47,500 | $41,230 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $14.68 | $17.37 | $20.17 | $22.51 | $23.19 | $19.71 | 490 | 0.10 | 2.93 |
| Annual | $30,540 | $36,140 | $41,960 | $46,820 | $48,240 | $41,010 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $13.29 | $14.95 | $17.99 | $18.80 | $19.60 | $17.45 | 270 | 0.08 | 2.42 |
| Annual | $27,640 | $31,090 | $37,410 | $39,110 | $40,760 | $36,290 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Hourly | $17.86 | $18.85 | $22.21 | $22.84 | $22.84 | $21.07 | 250 | 0.58 | 16.88 |
| Annual | $37,140 | $39,210 | $46,210 | $47,500 | $47,500 | $43,820 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $17.27 | $21.01 | $22.08 | $22.88 | $25.54 | $21.90 | 250 | 0.35 | 10.10 |
| Annual | $35,930 | $43,700 | $45,930 | $47,590 | $53,130 | $45,560 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $15.46 | $16.57 | $21.96 | $22.20 | $24.37 | $20.32 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $32,150 | $34,460 | $45,680 | $46,180 | $50,690 | $42,270 | ||||
| Spartanburg, SC | Hourly | $16.95 | $17.91 | $21.77 | $22.35 | $28.05 | $20.86 | 70 | 0.44 | 12.73 |
| Annual | $35,250 | $37,250 | $45,290 | $46,490 | $58,350 | $43,380 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $16.84 | $19.09 | $21.68 | $23.10 | $23.10 | $20.65 | 120 | 0.04 | 1.20 |
| Annual | $35,020 | $39,700 | $45,100 | $48,040 | $48,040 | $42,950 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.60 | $17.62 | $17.63 | $19.01 | $21.77 | $18.78 | 760 | 0.12 | 3.55 |
| Annual | $36,610 | $36,660 | $36,670 | $39,540 | $45,280 | $39,060 | ||||
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | Hourly | $17.86 | $18.85 | $22.21 | $22.84 | $22.84 | $21.07 | 250 | 0.58 | 16.88 |
| Annual | $37,140 | $39,210 | $46,210 | $47,500 | $47,500 | $43,820 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $17.27 | $21.01 | $22.08 | $22.88 | $25.54 | $21.90 | 250 | 0.35 | 10.10 |
| Annual | $35,930 | $43,700 | $45,930 | $47,590 | $53,130 | $45,560 | ||||
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | Hourly | $17.21 | $18.07 | $19.04 | $21.73 | $21.75 | $19.79 | 230 | 0.63 | 18.35 |
| Annual | $35,800 | $37,580 | $39,600 | $45,200 | $45,240 | $41,160 | ||||
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Hourly | $14.51 | $16.72 | $18.25 | $21.99 | $23.03 | $18.98 | 200 | 0.15 | 4.37 |
| Annual | $30,190 | $34,790 | $37,960 | $45,740 | $47,900 | $39,480 | ||||
Top industries employing textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders
Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills employ 57.6% of textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders nationally (3,060 jobs) at a median $37,810 a year ($18.18 an hour), followed by Fabric Mills (17.9%) and Textile Furnishings Mills (5.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills NAICS 313300 | 3,060 | 57.6% | $37,810 | $18.18 |
| Fabric Mills NAICS 313200 | 950 | 17.9% | $37,700 | $18.12 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills NAICS 314100 | 300 | 5.6% | $44,940 | $21.61 |
| Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills NAICS 313100 | 260 | 4.9% | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing NAICS 316100 | 180 | 3.4% | $46,530 | $22.37 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (5,310). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $29,930 for textile bleaching and dyeing machine operators and tenders in May 2021 and $38,180 in May 2025, with employment of 6,240 and 5,310.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $29,930 | $14.39 | 6,240 |
| May 2022 | $32,680 | $15.71 | 6,640 |
| May 2023 | $35,340 | $16.99 | 6,650 |
| May 2024 | $37,320 | $17.94 | 5,820 |
| May 2025 | $38,180 | $18.36 | 5,310 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
14 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island profile | $22.08 | $45,930 | $38,460 | $59,420 | 210 | 0.42 | 12.34 |
| 2 | Michigan profile | $21.50 | $44,720 | $35,030 | $49,420 | 60 | 0.01 | 0.40 |
| 3 | Mississippi profile | $20.98 | $43,640 | $25,930 | $63,900 | 80 | 0.07 | 1.93 |
| 4 | Georgia profile | $20.17 | $41,960 | $30,540 | $48,240 | 490 | 0.10 | 2.93 |
| 5 | South Carolina profile | $18.95 | $39,410 | $35,660 | $47,500 | 770 | 0.34 | 9.80 |
| 6 | New York profile | $18.77 | $39,030 | $34,260 | $108,140 | 120 | 0.01 | 0.35 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania profile | $18.47 | $38,420 | $30,460 | $58,120 | 250 | 0.04 | 1.20 |
| 8 | North Carolina profile | $18.08 | $37,610 | $30,190 | $46,460 | 980 | 0.20 | 5.79 |
| 9 | Tennessee profile | $17.99 | $37,410 | $27,640 | $40,760 | 270 | 0.08 | 2.42 |
| 10 | California profile | $17.63 | $36,670 | $36,610 | $45,280 | 880 | 0.05 | 1.41 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $17.58 | $36,570 | $32,820 | $49,120 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.97 |
| 12 | Alabama profile | $15.96 | $33,190 | $29,990 | $42,910 | 100 | 0.05 | 1.40 |
| 13 | Wisconsin profile | $14.87 | $30,930 | $25,770 | $48,520 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.87 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $14.35 | $29,850 | $27,610 | $35,060 | 100 | 0.01 | 0.29 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (51-6060), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-6061 Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-6061, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-6061.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.