Career profile for Dye Machine Operator

What does a Dye Machine Operator do?

Dye Machine Operators operate or tend machines to bleach, shrink, wash, dye, or finish textiles or synthetic or glass fibers.

What kind of tasks does a Dye Machine Operator perform regularly?

Dye Machine Operators are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Add dyes, water, detergents, or chemicals to tanks to dilute or strengthen solutions, according to established formulas and solution test results.
Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
Adjust equipment controls to maintain specified heat, tension, and speed.
Prepare dyeing machines for production runs, and conduct test runs of machines to ensure their proper operation.
Monitor factors such as temperatures and dye flow rates to ensure that they are within specified ranges.
Observe display screens, control panels, equipment, and cloth entering or exiting processes to determine if equipment is operating correctly.
Start and control machines and equipment to wash, bleach, dye, or otherwise process and finish fabric, yarn, thread, or other textile goods.
Examine and feel products to identify defects and variations from coloring and other processing standards.
Record production information such as fabric yardage processed, temperature readings, fabric tensions, and machine speeds.
Test solutions used to process textile goods to detect variations from standards.
Remove dyed articles from tanks and machines for drying and further processing.
Study guides, charts, and specification sheets, and confer with supervisors to determine machine setup requirements.
Confer with coworkers to get information about order details, processing plans, or problems that occur.
Inspect machinery to determine necessary adjustments and repairs.

The above responsibilities are specific to Dye Machine Operators. More generally, Dye Machine Operators are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Processing Information		Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings		Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials		Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Performing General Physical Activities		Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Processing Information

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Performing General Physical Activities

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

What is a Dye Machine Operator salary?

The median salary for a Dye Machine Operator is $30,260, and the average salary is $31,600. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Dye Machine Operator salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Dye Machine Operators earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Dye Machine Operators earn less than $23,100 per year, 25% earn less than $27,050, 75% earn less than $36,280, and 90% earn less than $41,880.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Dye Machine Operators is expected to change by -13.3%, and there should be roughly 700 open positions for Dye Machine Operators every year.

Median annual salary: $30,260
Typical salary range: $23,100 - $41,880
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): -13.3%

What personality traits are common among Dye Machine Operators?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as a Dye Machine Operator are usually higher in their Realistic interests.

Dye Machine Operators typically have very strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as a Dye Machine Operator tend to value Support, Relationships, and Independence.

Most importantly, Dye Machine Operators moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Second, Dye Machine Operators moderately value Relationships. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Lastly, Dye Machine Operators somewhat value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Dye Machine Operators must consistently demonstrate qualities such as dependability, cooperation, and self-control.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Dye Machine Operators, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation		Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self-Control		Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Initiative		Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Concern for Others		Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Cooperation

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Self-Control

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Initiative

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Concern for Others

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

What education and training do Dye Machine Operators need?

Working as a Dye Machine Operator usually requires a high school diploma.

Dye Machine Operators need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Dye Machine Operators

27.2% did not complete high school or secondary school
45.0% completed high school or secondary school
15.4% completed some college coursework
5.6% earned a Associate's degree
3.4% earned a Bachelor's degree
3.4% earned a Master's degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Dye Machine Operators

Dye Machine Operators may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as production and processing, chemistry, or mathematics knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Dye Machine Operators might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Production and Processing		Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Chemistry		Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security		Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Chemistry

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Important Abilities needed by Dye Machine Operators

Dye Machine Operators must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Dye Machine Operators need abilities such as arm-hand steadiness, control precision, and oral comprehension in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Dye Machine Operators, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Arm-Hand Steadiness		The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision		The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression		The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Control Precision

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Critical Skills needed by Dye Machine Operators

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Dye Machine Operators frequently use skills like operations monitoring, operation and control, and active listening to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Dye Machine Operators, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Operations Monitoring		Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control		Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening		Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control Analysis		Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking		Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Dye Machine Operator

Dye Machine Operator

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